The Technology Year in Stories: July 2024

December 29, 2024

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Microsoft & CrowdStrike IT outage and the global impact on data centres

We look at the articles that made the news in technology in 2024. Today, it is July’s turn, featuring worldwide IT outage & Deloitte’s Olympics innovation

Worldwide IT Outage: Industries Face Total Disruption

Businesses and essential services around the world scrambled to find the route cause of a major IT outage causing havoc around the world.

The cause of the widespread outage was widely unknown, as airlines, banks, health organisations and media broadcasters around the world scrambled to take action. It was reported that Windows workstations are the cause, with services taken offline as a result of the so-called ‘blue screen of death’ appearing on Windows PCs.

Microsoft took action to mitigate the problem, according to the BBC. The problem was not treated as a cyberattack, but rather what cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike has referred to as a "defect found in a single content update for Windows hosts"

IT Outage

Issues were reported in multiple countries, including India, the Netherlands, the United States, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Japan, among others.

Largest IT outage in history

Those that can access digital services have been quick to comment on the enormity of the outage. Australian computer expert Troy Hunt, who created the HaveIBeenPwned website, posted on X: “I don’t think it’s too early to call it: this will be the largest IT outage in history.

“The financial impact of this is already hard to fathom.”

Power Behind Paris 2024: Deloitte Pushes Olympics Innovation

With more than 200 countries participating in over 1000 events across summer and winter, the Olympic and Paralympic Games are the most watched and recognised global sporting event in the world.

Paris 2024 has been hailed as a digitally transformed Olympics. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has been steadfastly focused on transforming sports from all areas, whilst staying true to 2,800-year-old Olympic values.

This included the announcement of its first Olympic AI Agenda in April 2024, as it seeks to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) can power greater insights for athletes, broadcasters and viewers around the world.

Olympics Innovation

Supporting these efforts is Deloitte, a multinational professional services organisation that is committed to exploring new and emerging technologies. In April 2024, Technology Magazine, from the sidelines of the IOC’s AI press conference, spoke exclusively with some leading executives involved in the partnership about what these innovations mean for the Olympic Games, as well as the possibilities of AI and digital transformation for future games.

“Like so many other industries, AI is disrupting the sports ecosystem,” comments Kevin Walsh, Managing Partner, Deloitte North and South Europe.

“We're looking into areas such as sustainability and athletes who are transitioning out of their careers.”