On July 18, a flawed update released by the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike caused a massive IT outage at businesses around the world that use the company’s software, including major health systems throughout the country.
Key takeaways
A flawed update released by the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike caused a massive IT outage at dozens of major companies and health systems. Many systems were forced to pause surgeries and close EDs for several days while addressing the issue.
The unexpected nature of the outage highlights the need for a flexible crisis response process and calls for a “swiss cheese” approach to risk management with multiple layers of redundant protection.
Health systems can mitigate the impact of outages with more comprehensive business continuity planning and extensive communication between C-suites and IT leaders.