Amazon Web Services (AWS), the backbone of the internet for countless businesses worldwide, faced a significant outage that disrupted operations for over 1,000 companies and impacted millions of users globally. The incident, attributed to a Domain Name System (DNS) error, left major platforms like Snapchat, Reddit, Lloyds Bank, Halifax, Roblox, and Fortnite inaccessible. AWS, which powers approximately one-third of the internet, provides critical services such as storage, database management, and traffic routing, enabling businesses to avoid maintaining costly in-house infrastructure. However, the outage highlighted the vulnerabilities of relying on a single service provider. The disruption originated at AWS’s largest data center in North Virginia, though the exact cause remains unclear, with possibilities ranging from maintenance issues to human error or cyberattacks. Experts have long warned against the risks of over-reliance on AWS, emphasizing the lack of viable alternatives at its scale. While competitors like Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, IBM, and Alibaba exist, AWS remains the dominant player. The incident has reignited debates about the need for Europe and the UK to develop their own cloud infrastructure to reduce dependence on U.S. tech giants. Despite calls for such initiatives, the sheer dominance of AWS raises questions about the feasibility of creating a comparable alternative. This outage serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of the internet’s infrastructure and the challenges of diversifying its foundations.
What caused the AWS outage – and why has it made the internet fall apart?
