MS "Global 8.5 Million Devices Affected by 'IT Crisis'... About 1% of Total"

Although the proportion is low, the economic and social impact is significant

Approximately 8.5 million electronic devices were affected by the unprecedented 'IT crisis' that paralyzed computer systems worldwide. This accounts for less than 1% of all Microsoft (MS) Windows operating systems (OS).

MS stated in an official blog post, "We estimate that the CrowdStrike update impacted 8.5 million Windows devices," adding, "This represents less than 1% of all Windows devices."

On the afternoon of the 19th, when an 'MS cloud error' occurred, causing the ticketing and reservation systems of several airlines to be paralyzed, the Eastar Jet ticketing counter on the departure floor of Jeju International Airport was crowded with passengers waiting to get their tickets. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier on the 19th (local time), the latest update from the U.S. network security company CrowdStrike conflicted with Windows, causing disruptions. In particular, several computer systems relying on MS's cloud service 'Azure' were paralyzed, leading to delays in flights, train reservations, live broadcasts at broadcasting stations, and even stock exchanges.

Domestically, some airlines such as Jeju Air, Air Premia, and Eastar Jet experienced suspension of their reservation and ticketing systems, resulting in delays of 221 flights.

Regarding this IT crisis, MS pointed out, "Although the proportion of affected devices is low, the widespread economic and social impact reflects that many companies operating major services use CrowdStrike."

They continued, "This incident demonstrates the interconnected nature of our broad ecosystem, encompassing global cloud providers, software platforms, security providers, and customers," emphasizing, "It reminds us how important it is for all of us across the technology ecosystem to prioritize secure software deployment and incident recovery."

MS posted guidelines to resolve the issue on the Windows Message Center and explained that they have deployed hundreds of engineers and experts to assist customers in restoring their services.