Skip to main content

Embracing Preventative Security Measures to Prevent Another CrowdStrike Disruption

James Millington
VP, Industry Solutions
IGEL

On July 19, 2024, the cybersecurity landscape faced a significant setback due to an unexpected outage triggered by CrowdStrike, a leading security software provider. This incident not only highlighted the intricate challenges within IT environments but also the cascading effects on global operations across various sectors, prompting a reevaluation of endpoint security strategies.

The Incident and Its Immediate Impact

The outage was initiated by a defective update to CrowdStrike's security software, which inadvertently caused blue screens on Windows devices globally. This event affected critical infrastructure and operations, including major airlines which experienced severe disruptions. For instance, Delta Air Lines reported over 7,000 flight cancellations, estimating a direct revenue impact of approximately $380 million due to this incident. 

The widespread nature of the outage underscores the complexities and vulnerabilities inherent in managing endpoint systems, particularly those that rely heavily on interconnected and layered security solutions. This single event affected approximately 8.5 million Windows devices, a stark reminder of the pervasive reliance on digital infrastructure in modern business operations.

Sympathy for IT Professionals and the Push for Simplification

In the wake of the outage, there has been a significant outpouring of support for IT professionals, whose prompt and dedicated efforts were crucial in managing the fallout. These professionals faced the daunting task of, in many cases, manually visiting and rebooting the affected systems, a process that was both time-consuming and challenging. 

This incident has brought to light the critical need for a more simplified and preventative approach to endpoint security and management. The reliance on complex systems with multiple layers of security not only increases the risk of failure but also complicates the management and operational agility of IT environments that serve as the backbone of our digital world.

Embracing a Preventative Security Model: The Path to Enhanced Cyber Resilience

The CrowdStrike outage serves as a potent illustration of the risks associated with complex security environments. Enterprises are increasingly advised to consider simpler, more robust solutions that do not rely heavily on reactive security measures. For example, adopting secure, Linux-based endpoint operating systems can significantly reduce complexity and enhance security postures by minimizing the attack surface and reducing the layers of security needed. 

Such operating systems use a Preventative Security Model which can not only simplify endpoint management but also reduce the operational burden on IT staff. At the forefront of this transformative endpoint shift, using a secure Linux-based operating system at the endpoint preemptively mitigates risks. For the most resilience, select an endpoint OS that offers the following features: 

1. Read-Only Operating System and Zero Trust Security - By design, Linux-based endpoint operating systems are read-only. This is crucial in preventing malware infections because they disallow unauthorized changes. In the most advanced Linux endpoint OS solutions, each system reboot includes comprehensive integrity checks, securing the OS against sophisticated phishing attacks. 

2. No Local Data Storage - Select an endpoint OS that prohibits local data storage on devices. This minimizes common security breaches associated with data mishandling and not only simplifies breach investigations but dramatically reduces the risk of data theft. 

3. Trusted Application Platform and Endpoint Integrity - Ensure the OS you select secures its boot process at every stage. The most advanced will use cryptographic signatures that enhance system integrity and facilitate quick recovery from cyber threats. 

4. Advanced Authentication and Network Security - For assured application interoperability and ease of use in your specific use case, select an endpoint OS solution that offers validated integration with leading vendors. Be sure too that it employs strong authentication measures aligning with Zero Trust principles to substantially boost overall security infrastructure. 

5. Modular Design for Reduced Attack Surface - Finally, choose a secure endpoint OS that offers a modular and streamlined design to limit potential attack vectors. Also select options that offer a secure, customizable user environment through centralized management. 

The CrowdStrike incident marks a critical juncture for IT security, emphasizing the need to transition towards simplified, preventative security frameworks that prioritize robustness and ease of management. As organizations navigate the complexities of modern IT environments, adopting preventative security strategies can significantly fortify their defenses against future cybersecurity challenges, ensuring a secure and resilient digital infrastructure.

James Millington is VP, Industry Solutions, at IGEL

Hot Topics

The Latest

According to Auvik's 2025 IT Trends Report, 60% of IT professionals feel at least moderately burned out on the job, with 43% stating that their workload is contributing to work stress. At the same time, many IT professionals are naming AI and machine learning as key areas they'd most like to upskill ...

Businesses that face downtime or outages risk financial and reputational damage, as well as reducing partner, shareholder, and customer trust. One of the major challenges that enterprises face is implementing a robust business continuity plan. What's the solution? The answer may lie in disaster recovery tactics such as truly immutable storage and regular disaster recovery testing ...

IT spending is expected to jump nearly 10% in 2025, and organizations are now facing pressure to manage costs without slowing down critical functions like observability. To meet the challenge, leaders are turning to smarter, more cost effective business strategies. Enter stage right: OpenTelemetry, the missing piece of the puzzle that is no longer just an option but rather a strategic advantage ...

Amidst the threat of cyberhacks and data breaches, companies install several security measures to keep their business safely afloat. These measures aim to protect businesses, employees, and crucial data. Yet, employees perceive them as burdensome. Frustrated with complex logins, slow access, and constant security checks, workers decide to completely bypass all security set-ups ...

Image
Cloudbrink's Personal SASE services provide last-mile acceleration and reduction in latency

In MEAN TIME TO INSIGHT Episode 13, Shamus McGillicuddy, VP of Research, Network Infrastructure and Operations, at EMA discusses hybrid multi-cloud networking strategy ... 

In high-traffic environments, the sheer volume and unpredictable nature of network incidents can quickly overwhelm even the most skilled teams, hindering their ability to react swiftly and effectively, potentially impacting service availability and overall business performance. This is where closed-loop remediation comes into the picture: an IT management concept designed to address the escalating complexity of modern networks ...

In 2025, enterprise workflows are undergoing a seismic shift. Propelled by breakthroughs in generative AI (GenAI), large language models (LLMs), and natural language processing (NLP), a new paradigm is emerging — agentic AI. This technology is not just automating tasks; it's reimagining how organizations make decisions, engage customers, and operate at scale ...

In the early days of the cloud revolution, business leaders perceived cloud services as a means of sidelining IT organizations. IT was too slow, too expensive, or incapable of supporting new technologies. With a team of developers, line of business managers could deploy new applications and services in the cloud. IT has been fighting to retake control ever since. Today, IT is back in the driver's seat, according to new research by Enterprise Management Associates (EMA) ...

In today's fast-paced and increasingly complex network environments, Network Operations Centers (NOCs) are the backbone of ensuring continuous uptime, smooth service delivery, and rapid issue resolution. However, the challenges faced by NOC teams are only growing. In a recent study, 78% state network complexity has grown significantly over the last few years while 84% regularly learn about network issues from users. It is imperative we adopt a new approach to managing today's network experiences ...

Image
Broadcom

From growing reliance on FinOps teams to the increasing attention on artificial intelligence (AI), and software licensing, the Flexera 2025 State of the Cloud Report digs into how organizations are improving cloud spend efficiency, while tackling the complexities of emerging technologies ...

Embracing Preventative Security Measures to Prevent Another CrowdStrike Disruption

James Millington
VP, Industry Solutions
IGEL

On July 19, 2024, the cybersecurity landscape faced a significant setback due to an unexpected outage triggered by CrowdStrike, a leading security software provider. This incident not only highlighted the intricate challenges within IT environments but also the cascading effects on global operations across various sectors, prompting a reevaluation of endpoint security strategies.

The Incident and Its Immediate Impact

The outage was initiated by a defective update to CrowdStrike's security software, which inadvertently caused blue screens on Windows devices globally. This event affected critical infrastructure and operations, including major airlines which experienced severe disruptions. For instance, Delta Air Lines reported over 7,000 flight cancellations, estimating a direct revenue impact of approximately $380 million due to this incident. 

The widespread nature of the outage underscores the complexities and vulnerabilities inherent in managing endpoint systems, particularly those that rely heavily on interconnected and layered security solutions. This single event affected approximately 8.5 million Windows devices, a stark reminder of the pervasive reliance on digital infrastructure in modern business operations.

Sympathy for IT Professionals and the Push for Simplification

In the wake of the outage, there has been a significant outpouring of support for IT professionals, whose prompt and dedicated efforts were crucial in managing the fallout. These professionals faced the daunting task of, in many cases, manually visiting and rebooting the affected systems, a process that was both time-consuming and challenging. 

This incident has brought to light the critical need for a more simplified and preventative approach to endpoint security and management. The reliance on complex systems with multiple layers of security not only increases the risk of failure but also complicates the management and operational agility of IT environments that serve as the backbone of our digital world.

Embracing a Preventative Security Model: The Path to Enhanced Cyber Resilience

The CrowdStrike outage serves as a potent illustration of the risks associated with complex security environments. Enterprises are increasingly advised to consider simpler, more robust solutions that do not rely heavily on reactive security measures. For example, adopting secure, Linux-based endpoint operating systems can significantly reduce complexity and enhance security postures by minimizing the attack surface and reducing the layers of security needed. 

Such operating systems use a Preventative Security Model which can not only simplify endpoint management but also reduce the operational burden on IT staff. At the forefront of this transformative endpoint shift, using a secure Linux-based operating system at the endpoint preemptively mitigates risks. For the most resilience, select an endpoint OS that offers the following features: 

1. Read-Only Operating System and Zero Trust Security - By design, Linux-based endpoint operating systems are read-only. This is crucial in preventing malware infections because they disallow unauthorized changes. In the most advanced Linux endpoint OS solutions, each system reboot includes comprehensive integrity checks, securing the OS against sophisticated phishing attacks. 

2. No Local Data Storage - Select an endpoint OS that prohibits local data storage on devices. This minimizes common security breaches associated with data mishandling and not only simplifies breach investigations but dramatically reduces the risk of data theft. 

3. Trusted Application Platform and Endpoint Integrity - Ensure the OS you select secures its boot process at every stage. The most advanced will use cryptographic signatures that enhance system integrity and facilitate quick recovery from cyber threats. 

4. Advanced Authentication and Network Security - For assured application interoperability and ease of use in your specific use case, select an endpoint OS solution that offers validated integration with leading vendors. Be sure too that it employs strong authentication measures aligning with Zero Trust principles to substantially boost overall security infrastructure. 

5. Modular Design for Reduced Attack Surface - Finally, choose a secure endpoint OS that offers a modular and streamlined design to limit potential attack vectors. Also select options that offer a secure, customizable user environment through centralized management. 

The CrowdStrike incident marks a critical juncture for IT security, emphasizing the need to transition towards simplified, preventative security frameworks that prioritize robustness and ease of management. As organizations navigate the complexities of modern IT environments, adopting preventative security strategies can significantly fortify their defenses against future cybersecurity challenges, ensuring a secure and resilient digital infrastructure.

James Millington is VP, Industry Solutions, at IGEL

Hot Topics

The Latest

According to Auvik's 2025 IT Trends Report, 60% of IT professionals feel at least moderately burned out on the job, with 43% stating that their workload is contributing to work stress. At the same time, many IT professionals are naming AI and machine learning as key areas they'd most like to upskill ...

Businesses that face downtime or outages risk financial and reputational damage, as well as reducing partner, shareholder, and customer trust. One of the major challenges that enterprises face is implementing a robust business continuity plan. What's the solution? The answer may lie in disaster recovery tactics such as truly immutable storage and regular disaster recovery testing ...

IT spending is expected to jump nearly 10% in 2025, and organizations are now facing pressure to manage costs without slowing down critical functions like observability. To meet the challenge, leaders are turning to smarter, more cost effective business strategies. Enter stage right: OpenTelemetry, the missing piece of the puzzle that is no longer just an option but rather a strategic advantage ...

Amidst the threat of cyberhacks and data breaches, companies install several security measures to keep their business safely afloat. These measures aim to protect businesses, employees, and crucial data. Yet, employees perceive them as burdensome. Frustrated with complex logins, slow access, and constant security checks, workers decide to completely bypass all security set-ups ...

Image
Cloudbrink's Personal SASE services provide last-mile acceleration and reduction in latency

In MEAN TIME TO INSIGHT Episode 13, Shamus McGillicuddy, VP of Research, Network Infrastructure and Operations, at EMA discusses hybrid multi-cloud networking strategy ... 

In high-traffic environments, the sheer volume and unpredictable nature of network incidents can quickly overwhelm even the most skilled teams, hindering their ability to react swiftly and effectively, potentially impacting service availability and overall business performance. This is where closed-loop remediation comes into the picture: an IT management concept designed to address the escalating complexity of modern networks ...

In 2025, enterprise workflows are undergoing a seismic shift. Propelled by breakthroughs in generative AI (GenAI), large language models (LLMs), and natural language processing (NLP), a new paradigm is emerging — agentic AI. This technology is not just automating tasks; it's reimagining how organizations make decisions, engage customers, and operate at scale ...

In the early days of the cloud revolution, business leaders perceived cloud services as a means of sidelining IT organizations. IT was too slow, too expensive, or incapable of supporting new technologies. With a team of developers, line of business managers could deploy new applications and services in the cloud. IT has been fighting to retake control ever since. Today, IT is back in the driver's seat, according to new research by Enterprise Management Associates (EMA) ...

In today's fast-paced and increasingly complex network environments, Network Operations Centers (NOCs) are the backbone of ensuring continuous uptime, smooth service delivery, and rapid issue resolution. However, the challenges faced by NOC teams are only growing. In a recent study, 78% state network complexity has grown significantly over the last few years while 84% regularly learn about network issues from users. It is imperative we adopt a new approach to managing today's network experiences ...

Image
Broadcom

From growing reliance on FinOps teams to the increasing attention on artificial intelligence (AI), and software licensing, the Flexera 2025 State of the Cloud Report digs into how organizations are improving cloud spend efficiency, while tackling the complexities of emerging technologies ...