Microsoft has confirmed that a recent global outage affecting its Azure cloud platform was the result of a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack. This incident, which unfolded on Tuesday, disrupted various services for users around the world, leading to issues such as delayed Outlook emails and difficulties with the Starbucks mobile app.
Details of the Incident
The DDoS attack triggered connectivity problems for a subset of Microsoft services, including Azure, Microsoft 365, and Purview, beginning at approximately 11:45 a.m. UTC (7:45 a.m. EST) and persisting for nearly eight hours. In an update, Microsoft acknowledged that an initial error in the platform’s defense mechanisms may have exacerbated the situation instead of alleviating it.
While outage reports varied, with complaints ranging from hundreds to low thousands on outage tracker Downdetector, the impact was felt across a spectrum of users. Notable disruptions were reported by players of the popular video game Minecraft, the Dutch football club FC Twente, and the U.K. government’s HM Courts and Tribunals Service, among others. Fortunately, many users found workarounds, and services were largely restored within hours.
Starbucks customers were also affected, experiencing temporary difficulties accessing the mobile order and pay feature. Company spokesperson Jaci Anderson stated that this issue stemmed from a third-party system outage but was resolved by early afternoon.
In a statement released to the Associated Press, Microsoft confirmed that the service interruption had been “fully resolved” and directed users to Azure’s status page for further updates. The company plans to issue a preliminary post-incident report within 72 hours to provide more insights into the event.
This incident comes on the heels of a previous disruption less than two weeks prior, when millions of Windows-powered computers faced issues due to a faulty software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. Furthermore, Microsoft is currently under scrutiny regarding its cybersecurity practices. A federal cybersecurity review board had recently issued a report criticizing the company for a series of errors that allowed state-backed Chinese cyber operators to infiltrate the email accounts of senior U.S. officials. The report highlighted deficiencies in Microsoft’s cybersecurity culture, calling for significant improvements given the company’s critical role in the global technology landscape.
During an earnings call on Tuesday, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella emphasized that cybersecurity remains a top priority for the organization, reflecting the ongoing challenges and responsibilities faced by tech giants in safeguarding their platforms and users.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – Associated Press)
