The world recently experienced a significant digital disruption when a global IT outage affected countless services and businesses worldwide. From airlines to banks, hospitals to broadcasters, the impact was far-reaching.

The impact extended far beyond major industries. Small businesses reliant on e-commerce saw sales plummet. Education was disrupted as schools and universities shifted to online learning. Even everyday tasks like paying bills or ordering groceries became a challenge.

When The Internet Goes Dark

Imagine a world without emails, social media, or online shopping. Sounds scary, right? Well, that’s what an IT outage can feel like. Let’s break down what happens when those digital lifelines suddenly disappear.

What Caused It?

Image via Daily Mail

The culprit behind this global IT outage was a software update issued by CrowdStrike, a cybersecurity company. Unfortunately, the update contained a critical defect, leading to widespread system failures. The ripple effects were felt across industries, causing significant inconvenience and financial losses.

The Outage Impact

Image via New Straits Times

The global IT outage highlighted our increasing reliance on digital infrastructure. From booking flights to managing finances, daily life was severely impacted. Airlines faced cancellations and delays, banks experienced system failures, and hospitals reported disruptions in critical operations. The incident underscored the vulnerability of our interconnected world.

Take Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 2 for instance, that experienced significant chaos as passengers faced long queues due to manual check-ins. Banks also grappled with system failures, leading to disruptions in transactions and customer services.

The meltdown highlighted Malaysia’s heavy reliance on digital infrastructure. It underscored the urgent need for robust backup systems and disaster recovery plans to mitigate the impact of future disruptions.

What Can You Do?

Image via The Conversation

Prevention is better than cure. While we can’t prevent all outages, we can prepare for them:

• Backups: Regularly back up important data to an external hard drive or cloud storage.
• Offline Activities: Keep books, board games, or other offline hobbies handy.
• Communication Plans: Have a plan for how to communicate with loved ones if phones are down.
• Emergency Contacts: Keep a list of important phone numbers handy.

Yes, the immediate crisis has passed with CrowdStrike establishing a fix. However, the long-term consequences of this outage are still unfolding. Assessing the full extent of economic losses and data breaches is ongoing. This event serves as a stark reminder of our increasing vulnerability to cyber threats and the urgent need for robust cybersecurity measures.

The incident has prompted a global conversation about IT resilience and disaster recovery planning. As we move forward, it’s clear that building a more secure digital infrastructure is paramount to preventing similar disruptions in the future.

To put into simpler words, the world is becoming increasingly digital. Therefore, it’s crucial to build resilience into our systems.