Microsoft apologises after thousands report new outage

Microsoft has issued an apology following reports of a widespread outage affecting various services, including Outlook and Minecraft, with thousands of users experiencing issues globally. The outage was tracked by Downdetector and comes shortly after a significant IT failure that rendered over eight million computers inaccessible due to a flawed software update from CrowdStrike. Microsoft has stated that it has implemented a fix that is showing improvement but has not provided an estimated time for full resolution. The company is actively investigating the situation and has acknowledged the inconvenience caused to users.

The outage has also impacted other services reliant on Microsoft’s platforms, such as Cambridge Water, which reported issues with its website and services. The HM Courts and Tribunals Service in England and Wales noted problems with multiple online services, while NatWest customers experienced difficulties accessing webpages linked to the Microsoft Azure issues. Additionally, FC Twente, a Dutch football club, informed fans that its ticketing website and app were unavailable due to the outage. Computer security expert Professor Alan Woodward commented on the situation, expressing concern over the reliability of Microsoft’s network infrastructure. Microsoft is monitoring the situation to ensure a full recovery of its services.