Businesses and Global Services are gradually recovering following a major IT outage that disrupted computer systems for hours on Thursday and Friday. The problem stemmed from a faulty software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which affected Microsoft Windows and hit businesses, banks, hospitals, and airlines hard.
CrowdStrike’s CEO has apologized for the disruption and announced a fix, though he warned that full recovery might take time. While some airlines are starting to return to normal after numerous flight cancellations, delays and cancellations are expected to continue over the weekend.
Read more: Windows Users Encounter Major Outages And Laptop Crashes After a Crowdstrike Update
Many businesses are now facing backlogs and missed orders that could take days to resolve. Health services in Britain, Israel, and Germany also experienced issues, with some operations being canceled.
The outage, which began at 19:00 GMT on Thursday, impacted Windows users with CrowdStrike Falcon software. By Friday evening, the situation was improving globally, with many airports reporting partial restoration of operations. Hong Kong International Airport resumed normal services, and JP Morgan Chase is working to fix ATM issues.
Downdetector reported fewer tech problems in the UK by the end of the day. CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz acknowledged the issue on X, attributing it to a defect in a single content update for Windows hosts. He expressed deep regret for the impact and committed to ensuring full recovery for all affected customers.
Microsoft has indicated that users might need to reboot their devices multiple times, with some reporting up to 15 reboots before the issue is resolved. Tech experts also note that CrowdStrike’s fix must be manually applied to each affected device.
The incident is likely to raise questions about CrowdStrike’s role as a major player in the cybersecurity industry and the risks associated with having such a crucial sector dominated by a few large firms. CrowdStrike’s stock fell approximately 12% on Friday, benefiting competitors like SentinelOne and Palo Alto Networks.
The problems initially emerged in Australia and significantly impacted the air travel industry. Airports faced delays, long queues, and cancellations, with some flights grounded and passengers stranded. Extra staff had to be brought in for manual check-ins.
By 18:00 GMT, Cirium data showed over 4,000 flights, or about 3.9% of the total, had been cancelled, though some cancellations may be unrelated to the IT issues. Payment systems, banking, and healthcare services globally were also affected, with potential long-term impacts on payroll and staff wages. Railway companies and broadcasters Sky News and ABC Australia also reported disruptions.
