On October 20, Amazon Web Services, the world's leading cloud computing service, suffered a major disruption that affected thousands of applications used by large businesses. Downdetector, a service monitoring platform, reported that more than 11 million people globally encountered problems with over 2,500 organizations by 12:45 p.m. EST. This incident represented AWS's most severe outage this year.

The disruption significantly impacted various platforms including Zoom, Venmo, WhatsApp, along with multiple gaming, financial, social networking, and consumer applications. During the AWS service interruption, Downdetector documented notable increases in problem reports for these affected services.

Amazon, Microsoft, and Google constitute three major cloud service providers that function as the fundamental technological foundation supporting internet operations. Countless individuals and numerous businesses rely on these providers for critical services.

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Even organizations trying to reduce their reliance on outsourced infrastructure continue to encounter difficulties, since many software solutions they purchase still operate on AWS or other cloud platforms.

The practice of outsourcing cloud computing infrastructure reflects a contemporary change in business operations. Previously, organizations operated their own data facilities for technological needs.

Delegating infrastructure responsibilities to prominent cloud computing firms provides financial benefits and enhanced operational effectiveness. This transformation in business practices has resulted in reliance on a limited number of major technology companies for vital internet functionality.

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Essential infrastructure elements often go unnoticed until failures happen, whether in virtual or physical systems.

The COVID-19 outbreak highlighted the critical role of supply chains, showing that semiconductor chips are essential components in most technological devices and are mainly produced in Taiwan. The pandemic also revealed weaknesses in lean inventory systems, where companies keep stock at minimum levels, meaning any interruption can lead to significant operational problems.

According to Mike Chapple, a cybersecurity instructor at the University of Notre Dame, Amazon Web Services rarely experiences service interruptions. However, a significant incident in 2021 impacted Disney theme parks and Adele concert ticket purchases, according to reports.

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The majority of organizations build their systems with backup mechanisms to handle failures. Smaller businesses encounter greater expenses when establishing redundant systems, leaving them more susceptible to service interruptions.

Amazon is examining the root cause of its recent service disruption. Specialists in cybersecurity and cloud technology noted that the corporation usually performs comprehensive investigations and makes enhancements after such events.