The CrowdStrike Problem A Security Wake-Up Call

Today’s CrowdStrike issue is a stark reminder of the critical importance of cybersecurity. The incident has led to billions in lost productivity and considerable stress. How could such an oversight occur? As our reliance on cloud services and automation grows, the absence of rigorous quality processes will inevitably cause significant disruptions for all.

If only we could undo today’s events! In this era of AI and technological advancements, without robust operating systems and practices, no AI can truly save us. Actual intelligence and foresight are paramount.

Reflecting back to 2016, we were running ActOnCloud’s UAT environment on IBM SoftLayer (kudos to IBM for supporting startups with cloud credits). ActOnCloud enabled the provisioning of Virtual Machines across multiple clouds. During testing, our team created a test VM using a Linux template from a marketplace, which resulted in a shocking $800 bill. The VM itself was only $20, but network usage charges amounted to $800! The culprit? Malware in the template that was surreptitiously downloading gigabytes of data from the internet. Thankfully, IBM understood the situation and graciously waived our bill.

In the world of cloud computing, security must be integrated into the design. It is a fundamental feature, not an optional add-on.

Wishing everyone a safe and secure weekend!