Worldwide IT outage: what does it mean, and what does it mean for Global Relay customers

As a worldwide IT outage unfolds, we set out what has happened, how it could affect Global Relay customers, and how we can help.

On July 19, 2024, an as-yet undefined issue with CrowdStrike cybersecurity software caused widespread disruption to global industries – from healthcare and transport to banking. As engineers work to resolve the issue and mitigate potential harm, we set out the latest information and what the outage could mean for Global Relay customers.

What has happened?

Essentially, the worldwide IT issue stems from an as-yet undefined issue with security software related to CrowdStrike, while some reports suggest this could be the result of a faulty update, other reports suggest it could be linked to a “faulty channel file”. This has resulted in many Windows system users experiencing a blue screen on their devices, rendering them inoperable.

What effect could this have on Global Relay customers?

Global Relay does not have any involvement or integration with CrowdStrike, which is a multi-billion-dollar cybersecurity firm. While some customers may be affected by the CrowdStrike outage directly, it will not affect the continued running of Global Relay. Customers who are unable to access or log into their devices due to the Microsoft outage may not be able to access Global Relay services, despite our services being available and unaffected. Customers with access to their network should be able to access their Archive and other products alongside.

How can Global Relay help?

Global Relay offers round-the-clock support to our customers and are here to assist those that are unable to access their Archive or other services owing to the CrowdStrike outage. In the unlikely event that the CrowdStrike issue causes issues with your Global Relay services, please get in touch with our customer support team. If you are unable to access your computer by reason of the outage, we are also available by phone.

Global Relay are closely following the ongoing worldwide outage situation as it unfolds. We are not currently experiencing any impact to Global Relay services and will keep customers up to date if circumstances change. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our customer support team.