A worldwide technical failure occurred on Friday, allegedly triggered by a flaw in a Microsoft Windows update released by US-based tech company Crowdstrike. This outage impacted various government services, disrupted flights and airport operations, and caused difficulties for residents trying to buy groceries or refill their gas tanks due to non-functional card machines, forcing stores to accept only cash. The 'blue screen of death' appeared on many computers, disrupting companies' daily activities.
In the UAE, the rapid response from authorities mitigated the effects, and normal operations were quickly restored. Dr. Mohammed Al Kuwaiti, the Chief Cybersecurity Officer, affirmed that the UAE handled the global technical disruption with great efficiency and swiftly resolved the crisis. Thanks to a strategic partnership with Crowdstrike, the UAE maintained business continuity during the outage, according to the chairman. All sectors resumed operations optimally, due to the robust and flexible digital infrastructure of the country and adherence to national cybersecurity standards.
Al-Kuwaiti further noted that the collaboration with Crowdstrike is part of a joint effort to construct a sustainable cyber future. This partnership is anchored on three core pillars of cybersecurity: Capacity building, technology, and policies and standards. These pillars involve spreading cybersecurity awareness, utilizing advanced technological tools, and establishing standard operating procedures, respectively. This comprehensive approach ensures rapid solutions, continuous monitoring, and clear governance in both public and private sectors, preventing the spread of misinformation.
