Reliability and resilience are paramount in the fast-paced digital identity verification world. The global IT infrastructure recently experienced a significant outage, causing widespread disruptions across various industries. Amidst this turmoil, Authenticate® emerged as a beacon of stability and dependability. 

What Happened?

One of the biggest cybersecurity operators in the business, CrowdStrike, released a software upgrade on 19^th July 2024 that caused system issues that resulted in aircraft cancellations, broadcasters being forced to halt operations, and customers losing access to services like banking and healthcare. Major interruptions were experienced by global shipper FedEx, major airlines like American Airlines, Delta Airlines, etc., and certain moderators who oversee content on Meta's Facebook page were targeted.

George Kurtz, the CEO of CrowdStrike, announced on social media site X that Microsoft clients were impacted by a flaw discovered "in a single content update for Windows hosts."

The recent global IT outage was one of the most disruptive events in recent years. It affected major internet service providers, cloud services, and data centers worldwide. This widespread failure affected the Windows system, resulting in a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) that interrupted operations and the use of Microsoft Systems.

How It Affected the Identity Verification Industry

The identity verification industry heavily depends on continuous data access and seamless connectivity. During the outage, many IDV providers faced severe disruptions in their services. Verification processes were delayed, Identity Verification APIs failed to respond, transactions were halted, and the overall trust in digital identity systems was tested. Clients relying on these services experienced frustration and uncertainty as critical operations were impeded.

The outage underscored the vulnerabilities within the IDV infrastructure. Many providers struggled to maintain service continuity, highlighting the need for robust contingency plans and resilient architectures. This event served as a wake-up call for the industry, emphasizing the importance of investing in infrastructure that can withstand such unprecedented disruptions.

Despite these outages, Authenticate® stood strong and operated at full capacity except in areas where the county courts’ system was affected.

How Authenticate® Stood Strong

Despite the widespread chaos, Authenticate® demonstrated remarkable resilience during the global IT outage, reporting NO issues at all. This resilience is rooted in several key factors:

1. Global Infrastructure: Authenticate® has invested heavily in a highly redundant and distributed IT infrastructure. Utilizing multiple data centers across different geographical locations, Authenticate® ensures that even if one center experiences issues, others can seamlessly take over. 

2. Advanced Disaster Recovery Plans: Preparedness is a cornerstone of Authenticate®'s operational strategy. Comprehensive disaster recovery plans, including regular stress tests and simulations, ensured the team was ready to respond effectively to the outage. These proactive measures minimized downtime and allowed for quick recovery.

3. Cutting-Edge Technology: Leveraging the latest advancements in cloud computing and data management, Authenticate® employs state-of-the-art technologies designed to be resilient against failures. Our built-in Waterfall Based Mechanism ensures that our services stay afloat even if one dependency fails

4. Continuous Monitoring and Rapid Response: Authenticate®'s dedicated monitoring systems provide real-time insights into system performance. This constant vigilance allowed the team to identify and address issues as they arose, preventing minor glitches from escalating into major problems.

5. Customer-Centric Approach: Authenticate®, with its 24x7 team of specialists and customer support team, maintained transparent communication with customers in case they faced any issues. Regular updates and proactive support ensured that customers were informed and reassured, reinforcing trust and reliability in our service.

The IT outage served as a stark reminder of the fragility of our interconnected world. However, it also highlighted the importance of resilience and preparedness. Authenticate®'s ability to withstand such a significant disruption showcases the strength of its infrastructure and commitment to excellence. 

We thank our customers for entrusting us with the responsibility of securing their business.

Contacting Us can make your business more secure and resilient to such outages.