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Tony Lin , Product Marketing Manager , Synology
Why administrators had to manually reboot systems post CrowdStrike Microsoft outage
On July 19 , 2024 , an attempt by CrowdStrike to update the Falcon Sensor for real-time threat detection and endpoint protection led to a system crash that affected 8.5 million Microsoft Windows devices . The incident underscores the importance of having a reliable backup and disaster recovery strategy in place to prevent disruptions to business operations .
CrowdStrike provided technical support and released a patch to help restore system operations . However , many systems used by organisations were unable to be automatically recovered via a repair programme . When that happens , IT administrators have to manually boot every single affected device into safe mode and delete the problematic updates from CrowdStrike .
Though Microsoft introduced a process-minimising solution within the next day , which helped automatically delete the faulty files , it was still a laborious process of manually booting individual devices into WinPE via a USB drive .
Enterprises should build a strong data protection plan to maintain business continuity at all times .
Comprehensive backups
Deploying a backup strategy that regularly covers all sources and devices without isolated data is crucial for businesses , especially those operating across multiple platforms or tools .
Regular restoration drills
Equipment and system failures are never predictable . Continuously testing the recoverability of backup data is essential for verifying the effectiveness and availability of the organisation ’ s disaster recovery plans .
Instant VM recovery
Virtualising services and restoring operations as quickly as possible ensures reduced downtime and business continuity .
Cross-platform restoration
In CrowdStrike ’ s case , only one platform was affected . Businesses can minimise the risk of data loss by ensuring that all data , applications , and systems can be recovered and reinstated across multiple environments .
Off-site backup and recovery
In addition to backing up on-site data , implementing an off-site backup mitigates risks associated with data loss . If a company had deployed an off-site cloud backup during CloudStrike ’ s event , it could have easily resumed services from the said off-site backup site .
Backups for data resilience
Having a secure backup and disaster recovery plan is the key to data resilience and a crucial step for any business pursuing digital transformation . The CrowdStrike incident firmly highlights the importance of establishing a robust backup strategy and testing backups on a regular basis to maintain continuity in the face of unforeseen circumstances .
By fostering collaboration among industry players , OTEL helps drive innovation and improves the overall efficiency and effectiveness of telecom networks and services , ultimately benefiting consumers with better and more reliable communication .
How is Dell helping CSPs in the UAE drive innovation and new services ?
Dell helps the telecommunications industry accelerate the adoption of open , cloud-native architecture and technologies with new solutions and partnerships . We support the creation of consumable , tested solutions that telecom operators can confidently deploy in their networks . For instance , in the UAE , we have been supporting this drive by working with e & Group where we recently signed an
MoU to drive 5G innovation and strengthen e & Group ’ s mobile networks transformation to open technologies . The agreement allows e & Group to explore new avenues to enhance its technological capabilities and utilise the Dell OTEL environment to create , validate and drive telecoms innovations .
By adhering to open standards , our security solutions seamlessly integrate with existing infrastructure , allowing telecom providers to build a cohesive and interoperable security ecosystem .
With these new collaborations , solutions and expanded lab capabilities , Dell is quickly growing the industry ecosystem and bringing together CSPs and technology partners to leapfrog open innovation into action . p
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