Microsoft disclosed in a blog post on Saturday that a software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike led to a global tech outage affecting nearly 8.5 million of its devices. "We currently estimate that CrowdStrike's update impacted 8.5 million Windows devices, which is less than one percent of all Windows machines," the blog stated.
The update by CrowdStrike, a major player in the cybersecurity industry, caused widespread system issues, resulting in grounded flights, broadcast disruptions, and service outages in healthcare and banking sectors. Microsoft noted in its blog, "While the percentage was small, the wide-ranging economic and societal impacts highlight CrowdStrike's role in managing critical services for enterprises."
CrowdStrike has collaborated to devise a solution that aids Microsoft's Azure infrastructure in expediting a fix. Microsoft also mentioned its cooperation with Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud Platform, exchanging insights on the industry-wide effects. The aviation sector was gradually recovering from the outage that led to the cancellation of thousands of flights, leaving passengers stranded or facing lengthy delays.
Delta Air Lines, one of the most affected airlines, reported that by 10 a.m EDT (1400 GMT) on Saturday, over 600 flights had been canceled, with more cancellations anticipated.
