Global IT outage disrupts major Microsoft services across multiple sectors.

A major global IT outage has caused widespread disruptions across various sectors, primarily impacting Microsoft and CrowdStrike services. The outage began on July 19, 2024, around 6 PM ET, and quickly affected users in the United States, Australia, India, and several European countries.

Microsoft Services Impacted

Microsoft’s cloud services, including Azure and Microsoft 365 applications, experienced severe disruptions. Users reported difficulties logging in, accessing applications, and utilizing OneDrive. According to user reports, 59% faced login issues, 22% encountered problems with app accessibility, and 19% struggled with OneDrive functionality. The initial disruptions were concentrated in the Central U.S. region but rapidly spread worldwide, causing operational challenges for organizations relying on these critical tools.

CrowdStrike BSOD Errors

Adding to the situation, users of CrowdStrike’s Falcon Sensor reported encountering Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) errors due to a recent software update. This issue caused critical failures on Windows hosts, resulting in boot loops and system crashes. CrowdStrike’s engineering team quickly identified the problem as stemming from a faulty content deployment and reverted the changes. They provided guidance for affected users, advising them to delete specific driver files to resolve the BSOD errors.

Impact on Key Sectors

The global outage has had a profound impact on several key sectors, including airlines, banking, IT, and many more.

Airlines in India Report Flight Disruption Over Microsoft Outage

On Friday, airlines in India reported that their systems across the network were impacted by the ongoing outage in Microsoft Azure. Flyers are advised to reach out to their respective airlines for information on their flights.

About Microsoft Azure

Microsoft Azure, commonly referred to as Azure, is a cloud computing platform developed by Microsoft. It offers management, access, and development of applications and services to individuals, companies, and governments.

Indigo Airlines Advisory

“Our systems across the network are impacted by an ongoing issue with Microsoft Azure, which has resulted in increased wait times at our contact centers and airports. You may experience slower check-ins and longer queues,” Indigo said in an advisory.

“We are all hands on deck and are working relentlessly to restore stability and normalcy. Our digital team is also coordinating closely with Microsoft Azure to resolve these issues swiftly. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time,” the advisory added.

Akasa Air Advisory

A similar disruption was reported by Akasa Air earlier today. Akasa Air stated that due to infrastructure issues with the service provider, “some of our online services, including booking, check-in, and manage booking services will be temporarily unavailable.”

Akasa Air and SpiceJet Advisories

Currently, Akasa Air is following manual check-in and boarding processes at airports and has requested passengers with immediate travel plans to arrive early to check in at the counters.

“We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused and want to assure you that our teams are working with our service provider to resolve the same at the earliest,” Akasa Air stated in a post on X.

SpiceJet also reported similar issues.

SpiceJet Advisory

“We’re currently facing a technical issue in providing updates on flight disruptions. Our team is actively working to resolve this issue. We regret any inconvenience caused and will update you once the issue is resolved. Thank you for your patience and cooperation,” said SpiceJet in a brief statement on X.

Exact details, including the number of flights or passengers affected by the disruption in services, were not immediately available.

Microsoft’s Response

Meanwhile, Microsoft stated they are investigating the issue impacting users’ ability to access various Microsoft 365 apps and services.

“We’re working on rerouting the impacted traffic to alternate systems to alleviate impact in a more expedient fashion. Our services are still seeing continuous improvements while we continue to take mitigation action,” Microsoft said in its latest update.

Ongoing Developments

As of now, both Microsoft and CrowdStrike are actively working to resolve the issues and restore full service to affected users. Microsoft has acknowledged the situation and is providing updates on their progress, while CrowdStrike has issued a technical alert detailing the BSOD issue and recommended actions for users.

Staying Safe from BSOD Errors Linked to CrowdStrike’s Falcon Sensor Update

To avoid issues like the recent BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) error linked to CrowdStrike’s Falcon Sensor update, follow these steps:

1. Boot Windows into Safe Mode or the Windows Recovery Environment.
2. Navigate to the C:\Windows\System32\drivers\CrowdStrike directory.
3. Locate the file matching C-00000291*.sys, and delete it.
4. Boot the host normally.