How to Move Beyond the CrowdStrike Outage

The CrowdStrike outage was a wake-up call. It exposed how fragile our digital world can be, with approximately 8.5 million devices affected globally — and it wasn't just the big players who felt the impact. Small and midsize businesses (SMBs) were left scrambling, showing that no one is invincible when it comes to cybersecurity.

In the aftermath of the outage, many have criticized and questioned the practices surrounding CrowdStrike's operating system, particularly the reliance on cloud-based infrastructure in a monopolized market and the lack of transparency during and after the incident. The concerns raised are valid; after all, when a security company experiences a disruption, it naturally shakes the confidence of those who rely on its services to protect their most sensitive data.

But here's the thing — mistakes can happen to anyone. Even the most advanced systems and experienced teams are not immune to unexpected issues. What matters most is how these mistakes are handled and how we can learn from them to avoid similar disruptions in the future.

Partnering for Protection

One thing that's for certain is no one can fight cyber threats alone. This is where managed service providers (MSPs) play a crucial role, collaborating closely with cybersecurity vendors to strengthen defenses. By joining forces with vendors, MSPs can pool knowledge, tools and resources to ensure continuous improvement and build resilience against future incidents. Vendors often bring cutting-edge technologies and insights that MSPs can use to deliver better and more reliable services to clients, while also tailoring these solutions to meet specific needs.

Related:Sophos CEO Joe Levy on Lessons Learned from CrowdStrike-Microsoft Outage

These partnerships can make a world of difference when an unexpected disruption occurs. Rather than scrambling for answers, companies can rely on vendor support to minimize damage and resolve issues swiftly. To help keep clients secure, MSPs need to nurture these relationships, ensuring they're always equipped with the latest tools and strategies to face any threat head-on.

Lessons from CrowdStrike Outage

The CrowdStrike outage highlighted the importance of consistently assessing risks and having a clear, practical plan in place should something go wrong. It's not enough to assume your defenses are robust because they've never been tested — this attack proved that no one is invincible.

MSPs should take this opportunity to run risk assessments, identify weak points and consider how a similar incident could affect their clients. The lesson here is not just about preparing for outages but diversifying risk. Many businesses were caught off guard because they'd put too much trust in a single provider, but this can be mitigated by adopting a multivendor strategy or even a hybrid approach to ensure that if one fails, the others can take over.

Related:CrowdStrike Exec Sorry for Outage that Congress Dubbed a 'Catastrophe'

It's equally important that disaster recovery plans are regularly reviewed. Are these strategies genuinely ready to handle a CrowdStrike-level disruption? Can they keep clients' operations running smoothly even in the worst-case scenario? By asking these questions, MSPs can learn from the CrowdStrike incident and shore up their own defenses.

Bridging the Gap

For midmarket businesses, the CrowdStrike outage shone a harsh light on vulnerabilities. These companies are often too big to rely on basic cybersecurity measures yet lack the resources for top-tier enterprise solutions. That makes these organizations a prime target for cybercriminals, and when an incident like this happens, they're often left without the right tools or strategies to cope.

MSPs have another crucial role to play here. They can bridge the gap between affordable solutions and the kind of protection midmarket businesses need. If anything, this outage proved that many midmarket organizations simply aren't prepared for this level of disruption. However, by understanding their specific needs and challenges, MSPs can create tailored solutions that help these companies protect themselves without stretching budgets too thin.

MSPs Are the MVPs

MSPs have a golden opportunity to cement themselves as the go-to cybersecurity experts for the midmarket, but they need to act quickly and decisively. First, education is key. They must ensure their clients understand the changing threat landscape, explaining how outages like CrowdStrike's happen and what can be done to prevent future disruptions. When clients feel empowered by this knowledge, they're more likely to see them as trusted, strategic partners.

Next, more needs to be offered than just basic protection. Services like managed detection and response (MDR) and zero-trust architectures (ZTA) can make a massive difference in how quickly and effectively clients respond to threats. These services help MSPs to protect their clients and elevate their standing as indispensable partners in cybersecurity.

Lastly, when incidents do happen, communication is everything. Keeping clients informed every step of the way, offering clear and actionable advice on what to do is essential. This kind of leadership in difficult moments will strengthen their reputation and solidify their role as trusted advisors.

The CrowdStrike outage highlighted that many businesses are out there fending for themselves, but with the right support and guidance from MSPs, they don't have to be. Rather than viewing this as a failure, it's an opportunity for the industry to learn, adapt, and further strengthen its defenses.