The Chaos Caused by a Botched Software Update in the Airline Industry
In July, a botched software update caused chaos for the airline industry worldwide. The CrowdStrike software bug bricked 8.5 million computers around the world on 19 July, leading to disruptions in various sectors, including airlines.
Passengers like Anthony Bosman, an academic at Andrews University in Michigan, experienced the effects of the software bug firsthand. Bosman found himself unable to download a mobile boarding pass for his flight from Michigan to Florida. Instead, he had to check in at the airport in person and watched as an airline employee manually wrote out his boarding pass.
This old-fashioned method of issuing boarding passes was not unique to Bosman’s experience. Many passengers, including those in India, reported similar encounters on that day. The software bug also impacted banks, telecoms firms, health services, and online retailers.
A senior executive from CrowdStrike appeared before a US congressional committee to apologize for the chaos caused by the bug. The incident highlighted the importance of having contingency plans in place for IT failures.
One company that understands the value of such plans is Norsk Hydro, a Norwegian aluminum and renewable energy firm. In 2019, Norsk Hydro fell victim to a ransomware attack that locked staff out of more than 20,000 computers. Rather than paying a ransom fee, the company had to resort to manual methods to keep operations running.
Employees at Norsk Hydro had to rely on paper instructions and old binders to continue their work during the cyber-attack. The creativity and resourcefulness of the staff were crucial in maintaining production levels despite the setback.
Experts now recommend that companies prepare for IT failures by practicing using paper-based processes as a backup. Training employees to switch seamlessly to manual methods in case of a cyber-attack can help mitigate the impact of such incidents.
While pen and paper systems have their limitations, they can be a valuable fallback option in times of crisis. Companies are advised to have off-site data backups, alternative communication channels, and contingency plans in place to ensure business continuity in the face of cyber-attacks.
The chaos caused by the botched software update serves as a reminder of the importance of being prepared for IT failures and having backup plans in place to keep operations running smoothly in times of crisis.
