Interview with George Kurtz, CEO of CrowdStrike

Jul 20, 2024

Interview with George Kurtz, CEO of CrowdStrike

Incident Overview

  • George Kurtz apologizes for the impact caused to customers, travelers, and companies due to a software update issue.
  • A software bug in an update affected the Microsoft operating system, causing widespread issues.
  • The issue was quickly identified and remediated. Systems are gradually coming back online as they are rebooted.
  • CrowdStrike is working with each customer to bring systems back online.

Cause and Impact

What Happened?

  • A single content update contained a bug affecting Microsoft operating systems.
  • The bug led to disruption in various sectors like air travel, credit card payments, banks, broadcast channels, street lights, and emergency services worldwide.

Systems and Redundancy

  • Kurtz explains the complexity of cybersecurity and the continuous effort to stay ahead of adversaries.
  • The update was meant to protect against latest cyber threats but ended up interacting negatively with Microsoft's OS.
  • Only Microsoft's operating systems were impacted.

Recovery Process

  • Kurtz reassures that it was not a cyber attack, but an internal update issue.
  • CrowdStrike has been working overnight with customers to reboot and restore systems.
  • Some systems may take longer to recover, but CrowdStrike is committed to fully restoring them.

Reflection

  • Kurtz notes the complexity of software interactions and the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity.
  • Different versions and patch levels of Windows systems may have contributed to varied impacts.
  • CrowdStrike remains focused on protecting customers and preventing cyber threats.

Closing Remarks

  • Kurtz thanks the interviewers and again apologizes for the inconvenience caused.
  • Emphasizes CrowdStrike's mission to protect systems and keep adversaries at bay.

Additional Information

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