Microsoft and Crowdstrike release details behind ‘largest IT outage’: How did it happen?

Microsoft CloudStrike

A faulty software update by CrowdStrike, a cybersecurity firm, caused global disruptions in most Microsoft Windows systems worldwide, impacting various sectors. This update resulted in most Windows PCs facing the ‘blue screen of death’ issue and was called by some experts as one of the ‘largest IT outages’ they had ever seen.

The malfunction in most Windows PCs was most likely because of an update from CrowdStrike’s pieces of software, Falcon Sensor in Microsoft’s cloud services and related apps This faulty update then triggered a logic error, leading to major tech failures around the world.

In a blog post, CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz explained what may have caused this global outage. He added, "On July 19, 2024 at 04:09 UTC, as part of ongoing operations, CrowdStrike released a sensor configuration update to Windows systems. Sensor configuration updates are an ongoing part of the protection mechanisms of the Falcon platform. This configuration update triggered a logic error resulting in a system crash and blue screen (BSOD) on impacted systems."

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella also released a statement regarding this Windows outage and stated, “We are aware of this issue and are working closely with CrowdStrike and across the industry to provide customers technical guidance and support to safely bring their systems back online.” Microsoft later released an update and stated that the issue had been fixed.

Thousands of flights were cancelled or delayed globally, as most Airlines lost access to check-in and booking services. Hence, most Airlines resorted to issuing boarding passes manually in the absence of working systems. The issue also halted many emergency services including hospitals to parcel and express couriers.