Yes. The Crowdstrike Disruption Could Have Been Avoided

The recent disruption caused by CrowdStrike was a significant event that impacted the operations, reputation, and security services provided by the cybersecurity company. The event involved a non-malicious global technology outage stemming from a faulty software update for Microsoft Windows hosts. Microsoft estimates that roughly 8.5 million Windows devices were negatively impacted.

The systems adversely impacted included businesses and services running critical operations and crossed various industries including hospitals, public transit, financial institutions, healthcare, media, broadcasting as well as airlines and airports among other businesses.

Needless to say, the distressing event brought the “blue screen of death” across countless machines across the world. Some businesses experienced only minimal impacts while others grappled with substantial delays and operational challenges. Some of the impacted took hours to recover. Reports suggest that many may take several months.

Could it all have been avoided? Yes. It could have.

To prevent and mitigate such disruptions, companies could implement several strategies:

• Gradual Roll-Outs and Thorough Testing: Before deploying updates, performing extensive testing and gradual roll-outs can help identify and mitigate potential issues preemptively. Employing staging environments to mitigate risk before pushing software updates to production can be a part of this process.
• Backup Systems: Maintaining multiple payment gateways, redundant systems, and infrastructure can provide alternative pathways during outages, minimizing downtime, and ensuring business continuity by having critical functions supported by back-up systems.
• Real-Time Data and AI Integration: Utilizing real-time data reporting and AI can offer continuous feedback and immediate identification of issues, helping to quickly address and resolve disruptions.
• Establishing and Documenting Manual Workarounds: Comprehensive documentation provides step-by-step instructions on how to perform critical tasks manually when the software is down. This includes detailed descriptions of workflows, roles, and responsibilities. Having predefined alternative processes that can be activated when regular automated systems fail. They ensure that essential business functions continue to operate, even if at a reduced efficiency.

As extensive as the disruptions were, some companies were not impacted at all. For example, the clients of eMazzanti Technologies, an IT consulting firm based in Hoboken, NJ, suffered not one failure. Carl Mazzanti, the Co-founder and President of eMazzanti noted, “This incident, which affected millions of devices and disrupted critical operations worldwide, offers several important lessons for business owners: avoid single points of failure, implement phased rollouts, prepare for the worst and learn from mistakes.”

eMazzanti Technologies employs a variety of tools and practices to safeguard against such incidents. For example, they offer:

• Comprehensive IT Consulting: Provides expert guidance on IT infrastructure, which includes planning for redundancy and business continuity.
• Managed IT Services: Proactive monitoring and maintenance of IT systems help detect and address issues before they escalate.
• Cybersecurity Solutions: Advanced security measures, such as real-time threat detection and response, protect against both malicious attacks and operational failures.
• Disaster Recovery and Backup Services: These ensure that critical data and systems can be quickly restored in the event of an outage.

More precisely, the following solutions are at their disposal: 

1. WatchGuard Endpoint Detection and Response (EDPR): 

• Functionality: Provides advanced threat detection and automated response capabilities.

• Prevention Mechanism: Protects endpoints with comprehensive security features, ensuring any vulnerabilities or disruptions are quickly identified and mitigated before they can cause significant issues. It offers an alternative to CrowdStrike Falcon, providing robust endpoint protection that can prevent similar software-related disruptions.

2. eCare Agents: 

• Functionality: Continuous monitoring and support for client systems, including servers, workstations, and other critical infrastructure.

• Prevention Mechanism: Ensures that any anomalies or potential security breaches are detected and addressed in real-time, reducing the risk of widespread issues. Real-time monitoring and support help identify problems early.

3. 24/7 Monitoring and Support Services: 

• Functionality: Around-the-clock monitoring and support for network infrastructure.

• Prevention Mechanism: Continuous oversight allows for rapid response to emerging threats or issues, minimizing the risk of extended downtime. Ensures that updates and patches are carefully monitored, and any issues can be quickly rolled back or resolved​.

4. Comprehensive Backup and Redundancy Systems: 

• Functionality: Regular backups and redundancy measures for critical systems.

• Prevention Mechanism: Provides failover options in case the primary security solution encounters problems, ensuring continuous protection and operation. Having reliable backup systems would allow for a quick switch to alternative solutions if a software update causes issues​​.

5. Proactive Threat Mitigation Tools: 

• Functionality: Regular security audits, vulnerability assessments, and timely patch management.

• Prevention Mechanism: Identifies and addresses potential vulnerabilities before they can be exploited, maintaining a secure IT environment. Proactive measures ensure that any potential problems with updates or new software deployments are caught early and addressed.

By using these tools and solutions, eMazzanti Technologies ensures that its clients are well-protected against disruptions similar to those experienced by CrowdStrike users. These measures provide robust, continuous security and support, ensuring operational continuity and minimizing the impact of potential software-related issues.