Today businesses worldwide are experiencing significant disruptions due to a widespread IT outage caused by a faulty Microsoft Windows update in conjunction with CrowdStrike’s Falcon platform. This update led to numerous systems encountering the infamous “Blue Screen of Death” (BSOD), impacting operations globally across various sectors, including aviation, healthcare, and broadcasting.
Technical support on high alert after global windows outages
What happened?
Scope of the outage
The United States, United Kingdom, and Australia were among the hardest hit. In the UK, major airports like Gatwick and Edinburgh faced massive queues as their check-in systems were affected. German hospitals had to cancel emergency operations, and in the US, United Airlines reported extensive flight delays due to impacted computer systems. The BBC and Sky News also faced broadcast interruptions.
Why and what is being done by technical support to resolution
The problem originated from a compatibility issue between Microsoft’s recent update and CrowdStrike’s Falcon sensor. The problem is also termed as ‘bricking’ because the end result is that the affected device is as responsive as a brick. Only Windows systems are affected and share prices of CrowdStrike and Windows have suffered, CrowdStrike’s shares being down 21% at 06:15 ET.
CrowdStrike, a prominent cybersecurity firm, quickly began investigating the issue. CrowdStrike originally advised affected users to uninstall the problematic update and provided guidance on stabilizing their systems while a permanent solution was developed. Now CrowdStrike has released a fix, but this requires a huge technical support effort as each device that has been affected requires manual intervention. Whilst smaller organizations will be able to individually reset their devices, larger organizations will be affected as in-house technical support teams struggle to wade through their huge inventory of systems and end-users. Whist outsourced teams will not be able to manually apply the fixes, remote offshore technical support teams can support end-users individually by phone support as they apply the fix.
This incident underscores the delicate interdependencies within IT ecosystems and the cascading effects a single point of failure can cause and why it is vital for organisations to have technical support availability.
Technical support and deployment
The recent global IT outages have highlighted the vulnerability of interconnected systems and the necessity for reliable technical support. ServiceJi is dedicated to providing robust help desk services that safeguard your business continuity. For expert assistance and to ensure your systems remain operational, contact us now.
At ServiceJi, we understand the critical nature of maintaining seamless operations amidst such disruptions. Our comprehensive technical help desk services are designed to assist customers promptly and efficiently. We offer:
- 24/7 technical support: Our help desk is always ready to troubleshoot and resolve issues, minimizing downtime.
- Incident management: We handle end-user incidents with precision, ensuring swift resolution and continuity of business operations.
- Deployment services: Whether it’s deploying critical updates or new software installations, our team ensures smooth transitions with minimal impact on your operations.
For more information on our services and how we can support your business, explore our offerings at ServiceJi. Let us help you navigate and mitigate IT challenges effectively.
