On July 19, 2024, the world experienced what has been dubbed the "largest IT outage in history," with widespread impacts felt from transportation to healthcare. The disruptions, primarily caused by a significant Microsoft outage and a problem with CrowdStrike's IT services, were evident at locations such as Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport where long queues disrupted travel plans.
Financial institutions, medical offices, and television broadcasters faced operational difficulties throughout the day. Air travel was significantly hampered, with numerous flights cancelled or delayed, prompting airports to advise passengers on potential disruptions.
CrowdStrike reported a major disruption early in the day, attributed to a flaw in a recent tech update affecting Windows hosts, confirmed by CEO George Kurtz. He assured that the problem was not due to a cyberattack and that a resolution was swiftly implemented.
Meanwhile, Microsoft restored its cloud services, though users reported ongoing issues.
The stock market reacted as shares of both Microsoft and CrowdStrike fell in pre-market trading. In related developments, Amazon Web Services acknowledged some connectivity disruptions due to the CrowdStrike outage, assuring that recovery options were available.
Government response was prompt, with President Biden being briefed and engaging with the affected companies. The Department of Homeland Security collaborated with key stakeholders to mitigate the crisis, focusing on system assessments and resolution strategies.
Health systems like Mount Sinai in New York and the University of Miami reported disruptions but maintained that patient safety and care continuity were priorities. The University of Virginia Health System adjusted its operations to cope with the outage.
CrowdStrike's CEO emphasized the company's commitment to resolving the issue for every client, acknowledging the varied repair times due to specific network characteristics.