We’ve all dealt with computer failures or bugs. Often, a simple reboot fixes the problem. Sometimes, bigger issues arise, like airport or commuter railroad shutdowns due to “computer problems.”
What about a failure that affects the entire world? That’s exactly what happened a few days ago. A software update from CrowdStrike, the largest cybersecurity firm, crashed the global Windows operating system, causing chaos across multiple industries. It was the worst IT failure in history.
If you were flying or trying to close a business transaction that day, you likely felt the impact. Mac and Apple iOS users might not have noticed—unless they were also stuck in the airport. The bug was quickly fixed, and systems were restored within a day, but the problem remains: this won’t be the last failure of its kind!
With software providers and operating systems concentrated in a few firms like Microsoft, CrowdStrike, Oracle, and Apple, large-scale failures will become more common. Individuals and businesses need to build redundancy with multiple operating systems, telecommunications providers, and backup cloud locations. This isn’t a perfect solution, but it’s a good start to avoiding future “lights out” scenarios.
Sven Franssen