A recent software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike led to a significant global tech outage, affecting nearly 8.5 million Microsoft Windows devices, according to a blog post by Microsoft on Saturday.
Microsoft stated, \"We currently estimate that CrowdStrike's update affected 8.5 million Windows devices, or less than one percent of all Windows machines.\" Despite the seemingly small percentage, the outage had widespread economic and societal repercussions.
The update triggered system problems that grounded flights, disrupted broadcasters, and left essential services like healthcare and banking inaccessible to many users. Delta Air Lines was among the hardest hit, reporting over 600 flight cancellations by Saturday morning, with more expected.
\"While the percentage was small, the broad economic and societal impacts reflect the use of CrowdStrike by enterprises that run many critical services,\" Microsoft emphasized.
In response, CrowdStrike has collaborated with Microsoft's Azure infrastructure to develop a solution aimed at accelerating the fix. Microsoft is also working closely with Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud Platform, sharing insights to mitigate the outage's effects across the industry.
The air travel sector is gradually recovering from the disruptions caused by the IT outage, with airlines and airports working to restore normal operations and assist affected passengers.
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CrowdStrike outage affects nearly 8.5 million Microsoft devices
cgtn.com
