'Largest IT outage in history' raises critical technical questions

The major technical glitch that occurred on July 19 and led to the disruption of computing systems around the world has sparked a great deal of debate among experts and specialists about the unexpected consequences of technological failure.

Cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike's update to a single piece of software in its system, called Falcon Sensor, reportedly led to a catastrophic technical glitch that affected airlines, airports, media outlets, banks and retailers around the world, especially those using Microsoft's Windows operating systems.

Described as “the largest IT outage in history,” the event is a stark reminder of the vast web of IT interconnections that underpin digital infrastructure, and the potential for far-reaching consequences when something unexpected goes wrong.

This technical glitch also highlighted the geopolitical dimensions of these dependencies, with countries that rely heavily on Microsoft and CrowdStrike services being more affected than others.

Technical problems can translate into geopolitical vulnerabilities, as state authorities need to consider the economic, strategic and geopolitical implications of their IT alliances.

The technical glitch raises serious questions about the resilience of Windows operating systems, and the cybersecurity measures CrowdStrike is taking to protect them.

It also highlighted the strategic risks of relying on a single source of technology. It demonstrated the importance of diverse technology alliances to enhance national security and economic stability. It could raise the need for further action to enhance international cooperation in the field of cybersecurity.

Cybersecurity operators will need to ensure that core IT management and maintenance practices are robust and reliable, and capable of handling any event, from a cybersecurity attack to a simple software update.

The report was prepared by Feng Li, Chief Information Officer and Associate Dean for Research and Innovation at Bayes Business School, University of London.