Global Outage Caused By Cybersecurity Firm CrowdStrike Impacts Portland’s Systems

A widespread technology outage caused by a faulty update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike has impacted various industries worldwide, including the tech systems in Portland. Mayor Ted Wheeler issued an emergency declaration early Friday morning, enabling immediate response and efforts to restore full functionality to the city’s systems.

The outage, which affected airlines, banks, hospitals, and emergency services, was traced back to a problematic update pushed through for certain Microsoft systems by CrowdStrike. In Portland, the Bureau of Emergency Communications’ computer-aided dispatch 911 system experienced disruptions overnight. However, operators quickly switched to manual call-taking, and the system was operational again by 6 a.m.

During a press conference, Mayor Wheeler assured the public that despite the interruption, life-saving services provided by the police and fire departments were not compromised, and there were no interruptions in 911 calls. The community’s ability to make emergency calls remained intact throughout the incident. The impact of the outage extended beyond Portland, affecting other organizations and services as well.

Portland International Airport reported delays and cancellations, with 51 flights delayed and 21 flights canceled as of Friday afternoon. Select airlines were affected, and travelers were advised to check their flight statuses before heading to the airport.

Local healthcare systems, such as Providence Health System, PeaceHealth, and Legacy Health, also experienced some disruptions. Clinical applications at Providence Health System were impacted, but their information technology team was actively working to restore them. PeaceHealth and Legacy Health managed to maintain critical patient care and access, although some electronic health record systems encountered issues.

TriMet, the transit system serving the Portland area, reported that certain customer information systems, including real-time arrival information and service alerts, were affected. However, the agency confirmed that the system was fully operational again by mid-morning Friday, and transit services remained undisrupted.

CrowdStrike emphasized that the outage was not a result of a cyberattack or security breach. However, affected organizations have been cautioned about potential criminals impersonating CrowdStrike staff to gain access to sensitive information. Vigilance and caution are advised to ensure data security.