CrowdStrike’s Global IT Outage

7.22.24

Overview of The Incident

If you were impacted by the recent CrowdStrike and Microsoft outage, we hope you are up and running as quickly as possible. Datasmith is closely monitoring the situation, but we are pleased to inform you that Datasmith services have not been affected. Our Cloud services, Disaster Recovery services, and Managed services remained fully operational, and the outage has not impacted our major security vendors. While we do not work with CrowdStrike, we understand the gravity of the situation and the widespread concerns it has raised among businesses. As a Managed IT Provider, we want to address these concerns and highlight the importance of robust cybersecurity practices and security awareness.

The Impact of Downtime

This outage is a stark reminder of how critical system availability is to business operations. Downtime can lead to:

• Operational Disruptions: Interruptions in critical services can halt business operations, leading to financial losses and reduced productivity.
• Customer Dissatisfaction: When services are unavailable, customer satisfaction can plummet, damaging your brand’s reputation.
• Data Access Issues: Inaccessible data during outages can delay decision-making and hinder business processes.
• Compliance Violations: Downtime can result in non-compliance with industry regulations, potentially leading to fines and legal consequences.
• Increased Costs: Beyond immediate losses, downtime can incur significant costs in recovery efforts, overtime pay, and lost business opportunities.

Importance of Security Awareness

In the face of outages, whether caused by cyberattacks or other issues such as the recent CrowdStrike incident due to a software update, the importance of security awareness cannot be overstated. Key considerations include:

• Regular Training: Conduct regular cybersecurity training sessions for all employees to keep them informed about the latest threats and best practices.
• Strong Password Policies: Enforce strong password policies and encourage the use of Multi-Factor Authentication.
• Vulnerability Management: Regularly assess and address your systems to prevent potential exploits and breaches.
• Incident Response Plan: Have a robust Incident Response Plan in place to quickly address and mitigate any disruptions, ensuring swift recovery and minimal impact.
• Multi-Layer Cybersecurity Solutions: Prioritize the implementation of multi-layer cybersecurity solutions like endpoint protection, network security, and advanced threat detection to provide comprehensive defense.

Our Approach to Cybersecurity

At Datasmith, we partner with leading cybersecurity firms to provide our clients with top-notch security solutions. Our clients have found great success and security through these partnerships. We are committed to helping businesses navigate the complexities of cybersecurity and ensure that their operations remain secure and resilient.

Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or require additional needs/services, please do not hesitate to contact our account manager, Margarita Longo, at 508-385-3435 or mlongo@datasmithnetworks.com. Our team is here to support you and ensure your business stays protected. By staying informed and proactive, we can collectively enhance our defenses against cyber threats and ensure the continued success and security of our businesses.