It’s apparently no secret, since this was an event that affected everyone worldwide. On July 19, 2024, there was a major global IT outage, which occurred due to a faulty update issued by CrowdStrike, impacting Microsoft Windows computers, running Falcon Sensor security software. As a result, this event impacted and affected airlines, banks, businesses, healthcare providers, and TV broadcasters, causing disruptions across various sectors. Although the issue was resolved, the cause was identified as a defect in a single content update for Windows issued by CrowdStrike. Major U.S. airlines had to ground flights, financial institutions faced disruptions, healthcare services were affected, and TV broadcasters experienced outages.
It's one thing to deal with IT outages in small businesses, but it really hits hard and home when, and if ever, dealing with GLOBAL IT outages. Outages such as these can disrupt daily operations and highlight the critical importance of robust IT infrastructure.
It leads us to wonder: How does one prepare for a worldwide fuse such as this one? Well, here are a few things that we can suggest to stay ahead of the game. To prevent IT outages, consider steps such as:
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Regular Backups: you should always back up your critical data and systems on a regular basis. Cloud-based backups are especially useful because they provide redundancy and accessibility.
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Patch Management: you want to be sure to keep software, operating systems, and security tools up to date. Regularly apply security patches and updates to prevent vulnerabilities.
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Monitoring and Alert Tools:
- Be sure to set up monitoring tools to detect inconsistencies, any performance issues, or security threats.
- Also, configure your alerts to notify you immediately when something goes wrong.
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Redundancy and Failover:
- Implement redundancy for critical systems. You want to make sure you have backup servers, network paths, and power sources.
- Also, configure your alerts to notify you immediately when something goes wrong.
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Disaster Recovery Plan:
- You’ll want to develop a comprehensive disaster recovery plan. Identify critical processes, roles, and responsibilities.
- Test the plan periodically to ensure it works effectively.
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Security Best Practices:
- Implement and follow security guidelines for password management, access controls, and encryption.
- Assist your employ
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Vendor Communication:
- Always stay informed about software updates and known issues from vendors.
- As annoying as it may be, subscribe to security bulletins and advisories.
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Cloud Services: Consider using cloud services for critical applications. Cloud providers often have a strong infrastructure and disaster recovery capabilities.
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Incident Response Team: Build or search for a reliable incident response team to handle emergencies promptly, and where you can develop with them escalation paths and communication channels.
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Test and Simulate:
- Lastly, you will want to regularly test your disaster recovery and incident response plans.
- Try simulating an outage scenario, just so you can evaluate your organization’s readiness.
We always strongly suggest taking proactive measures, so that you can significantly reduce the impact of IT outages. If you feel you need assistance in ensuring that the proper precautions are in place, our KRS team can help guide you through the process and alleviate any stress. Let’s set up a call to address your concerns and ensure your organization is prepared for any potential IT challenges. Our friendly LIVE IT reps are always ready and available to speak with you at: 201.402.1900. Or we can always arrange a 10 minute discovery call with you, where we can discuss and focus on any of your concerns and needs. Remember, a robust IT infrastructure is essential for smooth operations in today's digital world.