Hundreds of thousands of people were left unable to access critical services on 29 October, as Microsoft Azure unexpectedly crashed. The massive outage came just nine days after an Amazon Web Services outage brought 'half the internet' to a standstill. Some experts have shown alarming realities of the Internet blackout. Microsoft and Amazon are the world's two largest providers of 'cloud computing'. The vast majority of internet services: including apps, social media platforms, and websites that rely on these companies to process their data.
After the recent Amazon shut down, many are asking: What is an Internet Blackout? An Internet blackout refers to a situation where Internet connectivity is lost or intentionally disrupted, affecting individuals, businesses, and even entire regions. These outages can last from a few minutes to several days, depending on the cause and the scale of the blackout.[1]
See related article: https://redskyalliance.org/xindustry/the-october-aws-outage
Common Causes of Internet Blackouts:
- Technical Failures: Damage to physical infrastructure such as undersea cables, data centers, or network hardware can lead to widespread outages.
- Natural Disasters: Events like earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, or wildfires can destroy vital communication lines and equipment.
- Cyber-attacks: Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks or hacking attempts targeting internet providers or major websites can result in connectivity loss.
- Government Actions: Sometimes, authorities deliberately shut down or restrict internet access during periods of unrest, protests, or for security reasons.
- Power Outages: Electrical power failures can affect servers, routers, and other essential components required for internet access.
Impacts of an Internet Blackout:
- Communication Disruption: Individuals may lose access to email, messaging apps, social media, and other online communication tools.
- Business Operations: Companies reliance on online services, e-commerce, or cloud computing may experience financial losses and workflow interruptions.
- Emergency Services: Coordination for emergency response and public safety can be hampered, potentially endangering lives.
- Education: Remote learning and online research are affected, impacting students and educators.
- Social Isolation: Communities may feel cut off, especially in areas where the internet is a primary means of connecting with others.
How to Prepare for an Internet Blackout:
- Backup Important Data: Store critical files offline or on physical drives in case cloud access is unavailable.
- Alternative Communication: Keep contact information for friends, family, and colleagues for use via phone calls or SMS.
- Emergency Supplies: Make sure you have access to emergency information through radio, television, or printed materials.
- Business Continuity Plans: Companies should develop strategies to operate offline if necessary, including manual processes and backup systems.
- Stay Informed: Monitor local news and government updates for information on outages and expected restoration times.
Conclusion - Internet blackouts can have significant consequences for both individuals and organizations. By understanding the causes and impacts, and by preparing in advance, people can better navigate the challenges posed by unexpected outages and maintain critical operations and communications until connectivity is restored.
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[1] https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/the-impending-danger-of-an-internet-blackout/ss-AA1PvfRv/
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