Outage Overview

A global breakdown of Microsoft cloud computing services affected Hong Kong airport on Friday 19th of July. This incident forcing passengers to queue in long lines and check-in manually because of the crashed IT outage. The Hong Kong Airport Authority earlier stated that some flight operations were impacted, and airlines had to “switched to manual check-in to continue serving passengers” in order to maintain passengers crowd.  Both AAHK and airport security deployed additional staff to provide on-site assistance to affected passengers.

Reason of Microsoft Service Outage

The outage issue of Microsoft Cloud Computing Services was caused by a technical problem identified in the software of global cyber security firm CrowdStrike, which provides antivirus software to Microsoft for its Windows devices after the incident. CrowdStrike has found itself at the center of unwanted attention as a technical issue related to its Falcon platform caused the outage.

Impact on Hong Kong International Airport

“A Microsoft outage that has disrupted the service of airlines worldwide is affecting some of the airlines at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA),” an Airport Authority Hong Kong spokesperson told HKFP on Friday afternoon, adding that flight operations had not been affected.

Airline Responses

Cathay Pacific

Hong Kong’s flagship carrier, Cathay Pacific, posted a message on its website at 2:45 pm indicating that self check-in services at Hong Kong International Airport were unavailable “due to unexpected technical issues.” At 5:15 pm, another message appeared, saying that flight booking services were also unavailable.

HK Express

Cathay Pacific’s subsidiary, low-cost carrier HK Express, was also affected. “Due to a global service outage of Microsoft, Navitaire, our global e-commerce system has been affected,” the airline said in a post on Facebook. It added that its website, mobile app, and WeChat mini-app had all been affected.

“Self-service check-in facilities at Hong Kong International Airport and our departure control system have also been affected; we are currently performing manual check-in procedures for our passengers,” HK Express more stated on their website, about precautionary details and advising all the travelers to allow at least three hours for check-in.

Airport Authority Response

The Airport Authority stated that it had “activated its emergency response mechanism in response to the situation,” and also advised travelers “to allow sufficient time to travel to the airport for check-in procedures, and stay alert to updates.”

Global Impact

The Microsoft outage has disrupted services for airlines, banks, media outlets, and businesses worldwide. Microsoft has stated that the cause remains unknown and that it is taking “mitigation action,” according to the BBC.

Previous Incidents

Last month, Hong Kong’s airport experienced a nine-hour system failure that saw the terminal’s display screens, the airport’s website, and its mobile app failing to provide real-time updates on flight information. Large whiteboards with handwritten updates about departure gates were placed at service counters, and passengers sought directions from airport staff.

What is CrowdStrike?

CrowdStrike is a US-based cybersecurity firm founded in 2012 by former McAfee employee George Kurtz. The company’s primary focus is helping organizations manage their security within their IT environments — protecting their data, systems, and operations that rely on internet connectivity.

CrowdStrike’s flagship product is the Falcon platform, designed to detect, prevent, and respond to cyber threats in real time. Falcon provides “indicators of an attack,” accurate detection, and automated protection against potential breaches, ransomware, and other cyberattacks. Thousands of companies worldwide, including global investment banks, universities, and even Australian betting agency TAB Corp, utilize CrowdStrike’s services to safeguard their digital assets.

Increasing Need for Cybersecurity

The need for robust cybersecurity has grown rapidly in recent years due to the increasing frequency of high-profile cyber incidents targeting major businesses, such as Ticketmaster, Medibank, and Optus. As a result, more organizations are turning to specialized firms like CrowdStrike to bolster their defenses against evolving cyber threats.

What Happened During the Outage?

On Friday, a technical issue reports related to CrowdStrike’s Falcon product caused a widespread outage that impacted computers running Microsoft software globally. The disruption led to numerous computers attempting to restart and displaying blue-screen error messages. In a statement, CrowdStrike acknowledged that an issue with its Falcon platform likely caused the incident. The company stated that it was working to resolve the problem and provide a solution to its customers.

Summary

Cybersecurity has become a very common and serious issue for every firm. As this global breakdown of Microsoft Cloud Computing Services hits Hong Kong Airport and effected passengers and other operations within hours, it is very important to always make a strong shield and cyber attack strategies to respond these kind of attacks. Contact us to learn more about network and cyber security services and end-to-end plans for businesses from our top-rated cyber experts across China, Hong Kong and Vietnam. Get a free quote and a consultation today