Delta-Microsoft Clash Over IT Outage Escalates
Delta Air Lines is embroiled in a dispute with Microsoft, alleging the tech giant’s failures led to the airline’s massive flight cancellations following a global IT outage in July. Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, asserts that the disruptions, which grounded over 5,000 flights and cost the company about $500 million, necessitate seeking damages from both Microsoft and CrowdStrike, the latter blamed for a faulty software update that affected millions of Windows computers.
Microsoft countered on Tuesday, stating Delta’s outdated IT infrastructure hampered its recovery, unlike competitors American Airlines and United Airlines, which bounced back more swiftly. Mark Cheffo, a lawyer for Microsoft, emphasized that Delta declined Microsoft’s repeated offers of assistance during the crisis. He also highlighted that Delta’s most problematic system, crew scheduling, runs on technologies supported by IBM and Amazon, not Microsoft.
Delta refuted these claims, citing significant investments in its IT infrastructure since 2016. The confrontation has also seen a stern defense from CrowdStrike, rejecting Delta’s accusations outright. Both Microsoft and CrowdStrike noted efforts to communicate with Delta’s management were ignored.
Bastian reiterated the need for rigorous testing of technology in mission-critical operations, while Microsoft demands Delta retain records showing the impact of various technologies during the outage period.
The fallout from this incident continues to reveal deep fissures in corporate partnerships and accountability in the event of technology failures.
Original Story https://www.cnbc.com/2024/08/06/microsoft-fires-back-at-delta-after-outage-says-airline-declined-help.html
Category :
Tags:
