What happens when the IT infrastructure is too big to fail?

Microsoft Outages Linked to Crowdstrike Update

Yesterday’s Microsoft outages, which were linked to a Crowdstrike update, highlight the risks associated with relying too heavily on a single global infrastructure.

Initial speculation suggested a coordinated attack on Microsoft’s infrastructure, but it was later revealed that the outage was due to IT administrative and patching issues. While Microsoft often faces challenges from state-sponsored hackers, this particular incident was caused by a security update from Crowdstrike Falcon.

The outage affected a wide range of industries and countries, demonstrating the fragility of public cloud infrastructure. The incident originated in the Azure US Central region but quickly spread globally, impacting various services and sectors.

As the situation unfolded, it became clear that the issue stemmed from an automated patch or deployment made after a specific time. Microsoft advised businesses to restore back to versions backed up prior to the incident to mitigate the impact.

Implications for UK Public Services

Concerns have been raised about the reliance of UK public services on Microsoft’s cloud platforms, which are not exclusive to government use and are not entirely based in the UK. This lack of dedicated infrastructure raises questions about the security and prioritization of services for UK citizens.

Despite warnings in Microsoft’s terms of service about the limitations of their platforms, the UK government has increasingly migrated core services to the cloud without proper assessment of suitability. This reliance on Microsoft’s cloud services has implications for critical national infrastructure and public sector operations.

The recent outage serves as a reminder of the risks associated with centralizing services on a single platform. It underscores the need for a diversified approach to cloud services to mitigate potential disruptions and security vulnerabilities.

Moving forward, it will be essential for the government to reassess its reliance on Microsoft’s cloud services and prioritize cybersecurity measures to safeguard national interests.