“Sunday scaries” arrived early this week as CrowdStrike users worldwide woke up to a major outage this Friday morning. The disruption has sent shockwaves through various business sectors, affecting everything from air travel to banking services.

Agio has been monitoring the issue, and here’s what we know: 

What has been affected? 

The ripple effects of these disruptions are being felt globally, touching some critical industries: 

  • Air Travel: Three major U.S. airlines – American Airlines, Delta Airlines, and United Airlines – have issued ground stops due to communication problems. 
  • Banking: Bank organizations are reporting an inability to access funds as they grapple with the outage. 
  • Retail: Even fast-food giant McDonald’s is experiencing issues with its systems. 
  • Emergency Services: Some 911 systems have reported experiencing problems, raising concerns about public safety. 

What caused it? 

Contrary to initial fears, CrowdStrike’s CEO has confirmed that this is not the result of a security incident or cyberattack. Instead, the culprit is “a defect found in a single content update for Windows hosts.”
cloudstrike incident tweet

How long until it’s fixed? 

CrowdStrike has issued a fix early this morning after identifying the problem. While some companies have successfully implemented the update and resumed operations, others are still struggling. The process is proving to be more complex for some organizations, requiring individual attention to each affected computer. 

The timeline for resolution is currently uncertain and will depend on the IT complexity of affected organization.  

What can I do to remediate in the interim? 

In times of crisis, it’s tempting to seek quick fixes. However, our Cyber Operations team strongly advises against uninstalling CrowdStrike as a temporary solution. While it might seem like a fast track to normalcy, it could leave your systems vulnerable to other threats. The safer approach is to address the issue methodically while maintaining your security posture, even if it requires more time and patience. 

Where can I track updates? 

For the latest updates on this situation, Agio will continue to monitor and post information on the AgioNow Portal. We encourage all affected parties to stay informed as the situation develops. 

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How can Agio help? 

If you need any assistance or would like to discuss your restoration strategy, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Existing clients may submit a case to the portal for support in navigating this issue. 

As we continue to witness the impact of this global disruption, it serves as a stark reminder of our reliance on digital systems and the importance of robust, adaptable cybersecurity measures. Learn more about Agio’s Managed IT and Cybersecurity services.