Microsoft IT outage: How a handful of companies can bring entire world to its knees
The reliance on a small number of cloud-based software providers can have disastrous effect, an expert has warned.
A major global IT outage has crippled multiple industries, causing widespread disruption in sectors as varied as healthcare, aviation, and retail.
This alarming incident has raised significant concerns about the heavy reliance on a small number of cloud-based software providers, bringing Britain and the rest of the world to its knees.
"The size of this global IT outage is quite something," Wil Jones, Technology Director at UK software development firm Propel Tech, told Express.co.uk. "So far, we know it is impacting everything from GP appointment booking systems to Gail’s bakery ordering systems, and of course, grounding flights in New Zealand and America. Right now, depending on where you are in the world, an IT glitch means that you can’t buy a croissant, see a doctor, or catch a flight."
In the UK, the most pressing concern has been the EMIS outage, which has forced GPs to revert to handwriting prescriptions, significantly disrupting healthcare services.
Global security firm Crowdstrike confirmed they are responsible for the outage earlier today.
The California-based company's CEO George Kurtz said the company was "deeply sorry" about the disruption as he confirmed the glitch was caused by a "single faulty content update."
Mr Kurtz added: "That update had a software bug in it and caused an issue with the Microsoft operating system...we identified this very quickly and remediated the issue."
Jones said that using only a handful of tech giants causes a 'domino' effect should anything go wrong.
"When we have so many vital systems using a single cloud-based software, should anything breach that, we see systems around the globe fall like dominoes, which is what we are seeing here," Jones explained.
"When these systems are responsible for the IT support of vital infrastructure such as planes, healthcare, trains, and local governments, it should give central governments globally pause for thought."
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The outage has highlighted the potential dangers of concentrated reliance on a few tech companies for critical infrastructure.
"When one vulnerability can have such global ramifications, should a situation like this ever be exploited by a rogue nation-state or terrorist organization, it could have devastating consequences globally," warned Jones. "Whether this is an intentional outage or just an unfortunate glitch, it needs to be seen as a canary in the coal mine moment."
The NHS has reported that the majority of GP surgeries in England are experiencing issues, with trains, shops, and pharmacies across the UK also affected. The disruption has extended internationally, grounding flights and impacting various services worldwide.
Brits hoping to escape the UK today have been stuck for hours at major airports including Heathrow and Gatwick, with big regional hubs in Manchester and Edinburgh also facing delays.
Pictures from Tenerife and Majorca also show holidaymakers desperately trying to get back to Britain.
