Microsoft hosts a cybersecurity summit after global IT outage

The summit will include government representatives and aims to discuss steps to improve cybersecurity systems and address concerns about organisational preparedness and vendor dependence.

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Microsoft is set to host a cybersecurity summit on Tuesday, following a significant global IT outage in July caused by a faulty software update from security firm CrowdStrike. The outage, which affected nearly 8.5 million Windows devices and disrupted industries like airlines, banks, and healthcare, highlighted vulnerabilities in the cybersecurity landscape.

The summit, held at Microsoft’s Redmond headquarters, will bring together government representatives to discuss ways to strengthen cybersecurity systems. The July incident raised concerns about organisations’ ability to handle system failures and the risks of relying heavily on a single vendor for security solutions.

One of the most impacted companies, Delta Air Lines, reported mass flight cancellations due to the outage, resulting in losses of at least $500 million. The airline is now pursuing legal action against both CrowdStrike and Microsoft.