From disruptions to Microsoft services and the nation’s air traffic system to a failed software launch in Hawaii’s business registration system, recent technology failures have raised questions about what happens when complex systems break down
Attila Seress, CEO of Honolulu-based cybersecurity firm Cypac, joined Hawaii News Now’s Sunrise to explain how updates to systems with many interconnected parts can have unintended consequences.
“When you start to modernize these very complex systems that have a lot of interdependent parts, it can get real hairy,” Seress said.
He said updates, repairs and fixes can create a domino effect when a problem in one part of a system affects another.
Seress compared cascading failures to people sharing a heavy load. When one system fails, another may take over. But if it cannot handle the additional load, the work can shift to other systems.
A widespread Microsoft outage left many users struggling to access Outlook and other Microsoft 365 services.
Separately, the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a nationwide ground stop Friday after communications and radar problems. The ground stop was later lifted.
Seress encouraged businesses to have a disaster plan that addresses cybersecurity in case a disruption occurs.
Asked about speculation that a cyberattack was involved, Seress said he was relying on public statements indicating the disruptions were not cyberattacks. He also suggested an attack was possible but did not cite evidence linking one to either outage.
“They’re saying this was not a cyber attack. So I’m going to stick with that for now. Give them the benefit of the doubt. We never know. Sometimes these kind of attacks come out years later after a thorough investigation has been made,” Seress said.
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