A widespread technology outage on July 19, 2024, exposed vulnerabilities across Maryland, affecting everything from flights to hospitals and underscoring the need for enhanced cybersecurity and emergency preparedness.
According to the Baltimore Sun article, a global technology outage disrupted numerous systems in Maryland, including government services and business operations. The outage, caused by a faulty update from the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike affecting Microsoft Windows systems, led to the need to implement emergency protocols, including backup systems. Governor Wes Moore assured the public of ongoing efforts to minimize disruptions.
From the article:
"We are closely monitoring outages at major medical systems and state agencies," he said, noting that officials across the state routinely run "thorough exercises to prepare for an emergency like this one." - Governor Wes Moore
Hospitals, government services, and businesses faced varying degrees of operational challenges, with emergency measures and manual processes being employed to mitigate impacts. CrowdStrike, the cybersecurity firm, ensured the outage was not a result of a cyberattack.
The technology outage impacted various counties across the state, requiring many to implement backup measures and prioritize system restorations. In a press release from Howard County:
"Last night at 12:41 a.m., our current vendor, CrowdStrike, initiated an update which caused massive outages and issues across the globe. Internationally, this event affected the normal operations for banks, airlines, government organizations, and more. Unfortunately, Howard County Government was immediately affected by the outage as well.
Throughout the early morning, our County Administration and Department of Technology and Communication Services (DTCS) worked vigorously and immediately to restore critical systems first, including our 911 operations center, financial systems, and all other high priority systems." - Howard County Chief Administrative Officer, Brandee Ganz
Read the full Baltimore Sun story here.
Cybersecurity is a focus for IT leaders. In the 2024 MACo Summer Conference panel, "Sentinels of the Digital Realm: AI's Role in Fortifying Cybersecurity," panelists will explore issues around cybersecurity and the importance of protecting sensitive data using AI.
MACo's Summer Conference, "Turning the Tide," is August 14-17, 2024, at the Roland Powell Convention Center in Ocean City, Maryland.
Learn more about MACo's Summer Conference:
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