Has the Global IT outage made you rethink your IT Setup?

Has the Global IT outage made you rethink your IT setup?

The IT sector has navigated numerous hurdles and witnessed remarkable advancements over time. Yet, the recent worldwide IT disruption triggered by a CrowdStrike software update stands out as a unique event. This incident, which impacted national infrastructure, healthcare systems, and parts of the travel sector, is typically linked to cybersecurity breaches or hacks, not routine updates.

Companies of CrowdStrike’s stature usually have stringent protocols to test updates before deployment, ensuring they don’t lead to significant issues. The only similar incident was with Facebook. A configuration change with their backbone routers caused a global outage for several hours, affecting Facebook and its associated services like Instagram and WhatsApp.

The Update that went wrong

Though not always well-received, updates are crucial to the IT infrastructure process. Their primary purpose is to address security vulnerabilities rather than add new features. However, this recent outage had a far more detrimental effect. It significantly impacted businesses and government infrastructures worldwide, disrupting travel, stock market operations, and health services. The outage didn’t just disrupt individual workflows; it affected critical services, highlighting the interconnected nature of modern infrastructure, which we all take for granted.

The magnitude of this incident was vast, underlining the gravity of the situation.

While most infrastructures implemented a fix Crowdstrike released rather promptly, and most systems gradually came back online relatively quickly, this incident has likely prompted many businesses to reassess their IT service providers and security products.

Internal IT department limitations

Some businesses may have experienced a knock-on effect, causing further issues, and within their in-house IT department, they may not have the skill set to remedy. Managing IT internally can be limiting. Seeking guidance from a reputable IT service provider is crucial, as external experts can provide the necessary support to navigate such crises.

This event highlights the need for continuous improvement in IT practices. Organisations must invest in better testing protocols and ensure that updates are thoroughly examined before deployment. The goal should be to minimise the risk of such widespread disruptions in the future.

Future Planning for Organisations

To better prepare for future IT challenges, organisations can implement the following:

• Implement Comprehensive Testing Protocols: Ensure all updates undergo rigorous testing in a controlled environment before deployment.

• Develop a Robust Backup Strategy: Regularly back up critical data and systems to minimise downtime in case of an outage.

• Engage with Reputable IT Service Providers: Partner with experienced IT professionals who can support and guide during crises.

• Conduct Regular Security Audits: Review and update security measures to protect against potential vulnerabilities.

• Create a Disaster Recovery Plan: Establish a clear plan for responding to IT failures, including communication strategies and recovery steps.

• Invest in Employee Training: Educate staff on best practices for IT security and response protocols to ensure everyone is prepared.

By implementing these factors within your business IT process you are protecting yourselves for not only cyber attacks but for unprecedented events such as this.

Conclusion

The recent outage CrowdStrike caused serves as a harsh reminder of the vulnerabilities within information technology systems on a global scale and how crucial these systems are in maintaining the smooth operation of essential services. Organisations must carefully analyse this incident and proactively implement measures to mitigate the risk of similar events in the future.

How We Can Help

At Aura Technology, we were fortunate to have only a handful of customers affected. We restored their operations quickly and proactively, much to their relief. Our prompt response as their IT provider prevented a potentially catastrophic event for these customers. If your business needs reliable IT support to navigate such challenges, contact us today to ensure your systems are robust and resilient.

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