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Our Interconnected, Resilient, Modern World ... Is Still Painfully and Remarkably Brittle: A Case Study of the Risks of Technology Failures

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Title: Our Interconnected, Resilient, Modern World ... Is Still Painfully and Remarkably Brittle: A Case Study of the Risks of Technology Failures
Language: English
Authors: Paul Witman, Jim Prior
Source: Information Systems Education Journal. 2026 24(2):16-26.
Availability: Information Systems and Computing Academic Professionals. Box 488, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480. e-mail: publisher@isedj.org; Web site: http://isedj.org
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 11
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Technology, Failure, Influence of Technology, Information Networks, Technological Advancement, Computer Security, Civil Engineering, Power Technology, Vignettes
ISSN: 1545-679X
Abstract: 8.5 million Windows PCs failed to restart in July of 2024. CrowdStrike, an IT security company, delivered updates with a faulty configuration file to millions of Windows PCs around the world. The failure disrupted or halted the global operations of airlines, banks, medical facilities, and much more. Many PCs were unable to reboot without direct human intervention. This resulted in delays that impacted the recovery time for all types of businesses, as well as their employees, supply chains, and consumers. The paper also provides several other failure scenarios for student analysis, including cyber-attacks on health care and government, and a broader system failure in air traffic control, as well as a detailed background in the underlying principles of technological resilience. This teaching case for undergraduate and graduate information systems courses encourages students to examine key questions for each event: What went wrong, what was the root cause, and why didn't we see this failure coming? What can we learn from each case that might help technology leaders and their business counterparts to further mitigate the risk of any similar events?
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1506370
Database: ERIC
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  Data: 8.5 million Windows PCs failed to restart in July of 2024. CrowdStrike, an IT security company, delivered updates with a faulty configuration file to millions of Windows PCs around the world. The failure disrupted or halted the global operations of airlines, banks, medical facilities, and much more. Many PCs were unable to reboot without direct human intervention. This resulted in delays that impacted the recovery time for all types of businesses, as well as their employees, supply chains, and consumers. The paper also provides several other failure scenarios for student analysis, including cyber-attacks on health care and government, and a broader system failure in air traffic control, as well as a detailed background in the underlying principles of technological resilience. This teaching case for undergraduate and graduate information systems courses encourages students to examine key questions for each event: What went wrong, what was the root cause, and why didn't we see this failure coming? What can we learn from each case that might help technology leaders and their business counterparts to further mitigate the risk of any similar events?
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