According to initial information, the problem lies in the software offered by the Internet security company Crowdstrike. The company apparently rolled out an update on Friday – and this triggered a chain reaction.
The programs of the American technology group Microsoft in particular do not seem to have tolerated the update. There are currently problems with Microsoft 365 and the Microsoft Cloud Azure, two of the most important programs of the US tech group. Many companies around the world work with the software offerings of the American technology group.
The company reports that an IT outage has caused problems with Microsoft 365 worldwide. “We are investigating an issue that impacts users' ability to access various Microsoft 365 applications and services,” Microsoft writes on the “X” platform. The company is therefore observing “a positive trend in service availability.”
But the outage has massive consequences. Laptops and PCs cannot boot up, emails cannot be accessed and programs cannot start. Instead, those affected are shown a “Blue Screen of Death”. This informs them that the system cannot start due to a malfunction. The workflow is therefore massively disrupted.
How does the outage affect your work?
In several countries, employees are currently unable to even enter office buildings because there is no connection between the access cards and the security systems. Employees are sitting in front of computers that are not working.
The general rule is: if IT goes on strike, employees should contact their boss immediately. In many cases, there are also processes that employees must follow. For example, there are often emergency numbers for IT outages that those affected must call first. If you don't know the number, you should inform your boss.
If an employee cannot work because of an incident, it must always be checked how this will affect working hours. Employees are usually paid for the waiting time. However, they can also be asked to perform other activities.
Telephone connections are currently not affected by the IT outage.
Tegut remains closed – shopping not possible in many places
The disruption also affects German trade.
Organic retailer Tegut informs its customers that all 300 stores in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse and Thuringia will remain closed.
“We are currently experiencing a widespread technical problem as part of the global disruption in connection with Microsoft. This affects all Tegut stores and cash register systems across the entire distribution area, which means that our stores currently have to remain closed,” says a spokesperson. “Unfortunately, at this point in time we are unable to give an exact estimate as to when the disruption will be fully resolved.”
Other retailers report problems but remain open. In individual cases, there may be problems with ordering goods and at the checkout.
In several countries, not only PCs and laptops have broken down, but also supermarket cash registers. In this case, the shops have to close. Anyone who urgently needs food or medicine should resort to their own supplies.
Flights are cancelled – what do I need to know now?
The summer holidays are beginning in many federal states – including Berlin, Brandenburg and Hamburg. But flights are now being cancelled in droves, all over the world. The safety of passengers and flights cannot be guaranteed due to the cancellations. In several German airports, tickets are being issued by hand because the IT system is on strike.
The first airlines have therefore issued a worldwide take-off ban. In addition, airlines can also impose a so-called “global ground stop” due to the massive disruptions. Flights that are in the air do not land, but continue their flight.
Doctors send patients home
Since Friday morning, the first doctors in Germany have started sending patients home because their PCs are not booting up. Prescriptions and insurance cards cannot be read.
Before patients come to the practice, they should urgently call in advance and check whether the doctor's PC systems are working. And some clinics, such as the University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, are canceling operations because of the IT failure.
