LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — This week, two separate technology disruptions led to significant delays and interruptions for thousands nationwide, prompting scrutiny over the reliance of both businesses and critical services on technology.
A disruption in Microsoft’s services on Thursday impacted email and various online functions, which was followed the next day by a nationwide ground stop issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) following a temporary communications outage affecting air traffic controllers.
Despite being unrelated, experts indicate that both incidents illustrate the vulnerabilities that emerge when essential systems fail. Cybersecurity expert Dr. Mack Jackson Jr. noted that the disruption experienced by Microsoft serves as a case study on how infrastructure failures can negatively impact companies and consumers, even without a cyberattack involved.
“This gives a great example of what could happen when there is an issue that can happen that doesn’t necessarily have to be a cyber attack. It can actually be a failure in the actual infrastructure,” Jackson said. Microsoft officials confirmed that the disruption was not due to a cyberattack. Jackson emphasized the risks businesses encounter when heavily dependent on third-party services.
He explained that a surge in demand on technology infrastructure can lead to service disruptions, especially for companies reliant on external vendors for data storage and operational support. “If a third party vendor says we have your data and we have it protected, if that third party goes out of business, so does your business,” Jackson remarked, urging businesses to develop backup plans that account for potential outages of technology services.
“We have all heard of a ‘Plan B.’ Well, we must have a ‘Plan B’ and a ‘Plan C’ just in case something were to happen, and this is a great example of that,” he added.
In a related concern, Dan Bubb, a professor at UNLV Honors College and former airline pilot, highlighted the necessity of modernizing aging technology within the nation’s aviation system, particularly in light of the FAA ground stop. The nationwide ground stop lasted for about five hours after a temporary communications disruption was reported by the FAA.
Bubb pointed out that such nationwide ground stops have only occurred twice previously—immediately following the September 11 attacks and during a brief incident in 2023. “It’s another wake-up call that we need to very seriously look at our air traffic system,” he stated, advocating for an upgrade of the existing air traffic control infrastructure to avoid future disruptions.
With the FAA’s ground stop now lifted, Bubb warned that full restoration of airline operations could take several days as carriers work to rebook passengers and reposition flight crews, which may extend delays across the aviation network.
