Last week was a pretty crazy week, even I was affected by the Microsoft and CrowdStrike software issue. I got stuck trying to fly out of the DC area for 3 days. I almost caught the Amtrak back to Atlanta whew!
But now I’m back its been a while since I have put out a weekly newsletter . So mark your calendar for every Tuesday.
This was probably one of the biggest software outages in history, and for it to happen to Microsoft is quite astonishing. If you are already working in Tech or you're interested in getting into Tech, this event should be your sign to start now.
On July 18, CrowdStrike, a leading cybersecurity firm, released a software update that began impacting IT systems globally. This update inadvertently caused Microsoft's Windows operating systems to experience the infamous "Blue Screen of Death" (BSOD), leading to a massive outage that affected millions of devices worldwide.
Unless you were living under a rock, you probably noticed the chaos. Here are some of the humorous yet frustrating moments from the event:
Fridge Fail: A Twitter user joked about not being able to open their fridge.
Rental Car Board: A rental car board was down because it relied on Windows.
Airline Chaos: The most significant impact was on airlines, with thousands of flights and train services canceled globally.
CrowdStrike's update included a defect that caused Windows systems to delete critical files, leading to widespread Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) errors. The root cause was a coding error involving a null pointer in C++, which corrupted the software update. This issue was not a cyberattack but a significant technical glitch. Null pointers while coding was something I used to struggle with, so to see this take down the entire world is pretty crazy.
This incident underscores the critical need for IT and cybersecurity professionals. Here’s why:
Global Impact: The outage affected banks, airlines, hospitals, and more, highlighting the interconnected nature of our tech ecosystem.
Job Opportunities: The tech field, especially cybersecurity, is mission-critical to the Government. There are over 500,000 unfilled roles in tech, making now the best time to get involved.
In my career, I’ve been paid well because I was the lead radar engineer during crises with government systems. When a system went down it was on me to get the system back up and running as soon as possible. Stressful, but it was rewarding and paid the big bucks. This event is a reminder that being skilled in tech can make you indispensable or “layoff proof” as I like to call it.
If you’re interested in getting into GovTech, I’m hosting a 5 day live workshop starting at 7 PM EST tomorrow.
I’ll teach you everything you need to know to get started join for as low as $27.
Here's the link to save your spot - I
hope to see you there!
Stay Tech-Focused and position yourself to win. There’s no better time than now to get involved in Tech.
-Symoné B.