Could proper QA have solved the multi billion $ Global IT outrage? YES!

A recent global IT outage has clearly exposed vulnerabilities in our digital infrastructure. On July 19, 2024, a faulty update to CrowdStrike’s Falcon software caused massive disruptions across critical sectors such as healthcare, finance, and transportation worldwide. This incident raises an important question: could comprehensive Quality Assurance (QA) have prevented such widespread failures?

The Impact: A wake-up call for critical sectors

Around 8.5 million Windows devices were affected according to The Guardian, illustrating the severity and reach of the incident. BBC reported that thousands of flights were canceled or delayed worldwide, and essential services in healthcare and banking faced significant disruptions. Healthcare systems faced delays in patient care and access to medical records, as reported by The Guardian, underscoring the critical risks associated with IT vulnerabilities in life-dependent services. Air traffic control issues in Germany and significant booking system outages in the US further highlighted the extensive impact of the outage, according to The Guardian.

A misstep in update management

CrowdStrike has clarified that the outage was not the result of a cyberattack but rather an internal update error. The company was testing a new method to expedite system recovery, as reported by CNN. This incident highlights a crucial lesson: even well-intentioned internal updates can have catastrophic consequences if not carefully managed and tested.

"All too often these days, a single glitch results in a system-wide outage, affecting industries from healthcare and airlines to banks and auto dealers" Lina Khan, the Chair of the US Federal Trade Commission, stated after the incident. 

The importance of Quality Assurance

The global IT outage underscores the critical role of comprehensive quality assurance (QA) in software development. Proper QA practices could have mitigated the impact of the faulty update:

Incremental rollouts: By rolling out updates in small batches, issues can be detected and addressed before affecting a large number of users. This approach ensures that any problems are contained and resolved quickly, minimizing widespread disruption.

Rigorous validation: Validating updates against real-world environments or simulators can identify potential issues that might not surface in controlled test settings. This step is crucial for ensuring updates perform as expected in diverse conditions.

Comprehensive security testing and test automation are essential components of effective QA. SHFTRS offer vital test automation services that can identify and mitigate vulnerabilities before software updates are deployed. By integrating rigorous security testing into the development process, organizations can better safeguard against widespread disruptions.

Similar events from the past

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen critical infrastructure disrupted by IT issues. In October 2021, Facebook suffered a massive outage caused by a configuration change that cut off its data centers from the internet, revealing the importance of meticulous configuration management, according to The Guardian. Similarly, in June 2021, a Fastly CDN outage took down numerous high-traffic websites, including news and social media platforms, due to a software bug linked to a configuration change, CNN reported.

Strengthening IT resilience

These incidents underscore the urgent need for robust IT systems and contingency plans, especially in sectors crucial to daily life. As our reliance on digital infrastructure grows, ensuring its resilience and security becomes paramount.

Looking at these recent events, it’s obvious that boosting our cybersecurity and IT resilience isn’t just important—it’s crucial for keeping our connected world safe.

Sources:

Da Silva, J. (2024, July 22). 'Significant number' of devices fixed - CrowdStrike. BBC News. Retrieved July 23, 2024, from https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgl7e33n1d0o

Franceschi-Bicchierai, L. (2021, October 5). Facebook outage: What went wrong and why did it take so long to fix? The Guardian. Retrieved July 23, 2024, from https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/oct/05/facebook-outage-what-went-wrong-and-why-did-it-take-so-long-to-fix

McKie, R. (2024, July 22). CrowdStrike says significant number of devices back online after global outage. The Guardian. Retrieved July 23, 2024, from https://www.theguardian.com/technology/article/2024/jul/22/crowdstrike-says-significant-number-of-devices-back-online-after-global-outage

Sottile, Z. (July 22, 2024). Hundreds of US flights are canceled for the 4th straight day. Here’s the latest on the global tech outage. CNN. Retrieved on July 24, 2024, from: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/22/us/microsoft-power-outage-crowdstrike-it/index.html

Valinsky, J. (2021, June 8). Massive internet outage: Websites and apps around the world go dark. CNN. Retrieved July 23, 2024, from https://edition.cnn.com/2021/06/08/tech/internet-outage-fastly/index.html

Zengler, T. (2024, July 19). What is CrowdStrike? The New York Times. Retrieved July 23, 2024, from https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/19/business/what-is-crowdstrike.html#:~:text=CrowdStrike%2C%20which%20was%20founded%20in,against%20hackers%20and%20outside%20breaches