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Insights

CrowdStrike Global IT Outage: Aura Technology MD, Tim Walker shares his Insights with Radio Solent

The Incident

Last week, a widespread global IT outage sent shockwaves through businesses, airports, and critical infrastructure. Devices displayed the dreaded “blue screen of death,” leaving users frustrated and systems paralysed. The culprit? A software update issued by cybersecurity giant CrowdStrike.

CrowdStrike’s Response

CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz swiftly addressed the situation. He confirmed that Mac and Linux users remained unscathed, emphasising that this wasn’t a security breach or cyber attack. The flaw affected Microsoft Windows users, triggering chaos across sectors.

Issue Identification and Fix

Kurtz assured users that the issue had been identified, isolated, and a fix deployed. However, restoring normalcy would take time, especially for those who hadn’t automatically rebooted after the patch. CrowdStrike urged customers to stay informed through official channels.

Impact on Sectors

The outage rippled through significant sectors:

  1. GP Practices: Most GP practices in England faced disruptions, but emergency services remained operational. Patients were advised to attend appointments unless informed otherwise.
  2. Pharmacies: Community pharmacies struggled, affecting prescription access and medicine deliveries.
  3. Sky News: The broadcaster temporarily went off air, apologising to viewers for the disruption.
  4. Airlines and Airports: Ryanair and other airlines warned passengers of potential disruptions. Airports dealt with long queues and grounded flights.
  5. Downdetector Reports: Users reported problems with Visa, BT, major supermarkets, banks, online gaming platforms, and media outlets.

Tim Walker’s Perspective

During an interview with Radio Solent, Tim Walker, MD of Aura Technology, shared his insights:

  1. Unprecedented software update failure
  2. The importance of software updates
  3. Time of recovery
  4. Advice for struggling with IT issues

His full interview with Radio Solent can be heard here:

Conclusion

The CrowdStrike incident underscores the complexity of interconnected digital systems. As businesses recover, informed discussions and adaptive strategies are vital. Contact us today to discuss your IT strategy and to ensure you have support when incidents, even this unusual, occur.

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