Microsoft Global Disruption: CrowdStrike Update Sparks Massive Tech Outages

On Friday morning, a flawed software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike triggered widespread outages across Microsoft systems, impacting critical sectors globally. Banks, stock exchanges, airlines, hospitals, and various public services were severely disrupted, with over one thousand and three hundred flights grounded in the U.S. alone, major European airports halting landings, and over twenty-five thousand flights delayed across the world, reported CBS News.

In a statement earlier on Friday, Microsoft said, “We remain committed in treating this event with the highest priority and urgency while we continue to address the lingering impact for the Microsoft 365 apps that are in a degraded state.”

CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz acknowledged the issue stemmed from an update to its Falcon Sensor software, which caused Microsoft systems to crash, but clarified it was not a cyberattack. The glitch affected systems dependent on Microsoft 365 apps, forcing manual operations at airports and healthcare facilities worldwide.

Efforts to resolve the issue are underway, but the full recovery process is expected to take days. Microsoft and CrowdStrike are working to restore services, but disruptions are expected to persist across global operations. The incident highlights the interconnected nature of global technology and the significant repercussions of software vulnerabilities on everyday business operations.