AWS outage highlights world’s heavy dependence on cloud computing

WEB DESK: A major outage at Amazon Web Services (AWS) on Monday disrupted large parts of the internet, knocking out apps, websites and tools used by millions worldwide. The incident, which lasted for several hours, exposed how deeply everyday life depends on the cloud systems that quietly power much of the digital world.

Technical glitch at AWS data centre

The problem began around 07:11 GMT when a technical update at AWS’s main data centre in Virginia caused an error in the system’s Domain Name System (DNS). The issue originated from DynamoDB, a key database service that stores user information for thousands of online platforms. The DNS fault meant apps and websites could not find the correct servers, cutting off access for users.

As the problem spread, 113 AWS services were affected, including some of the most widely used apps in the world. By 10:11 GMT, Amazon confirmed that services were back online but said engineers were still processing a backlog of delayed data.

Outage-tracking site Downdetector continued to report problems even after AWS declared normal operations, with users experiencing difficulties on OpenAI, ESPN and Apple Music.

What is AWS and why it matters

AWS is the world’s largest cloud computing provider, offering storage and computing power to thousands of businesses. It operates behind the scenes for apps, websites and online systems that people use daily. When AWS goes down, it can create a ripple effect across industries that depend on its servers.

According to Al Jazeera, market analyst Joshua Mahony said such incidents are not uncommon in the tech world. “The key is resolving them quickly and limiting financial fallout,” he said. He added that AWS’s massive market share, about 30 percent, makes it unlikely that customers would move to other providers.

Major services hit worldwide

The outage affected popular apps such as WhatsApp, Signal, Zoom, Slack, Snapchat, Pinterest and Apple TV. Gaming services including Roblox, Fortnite and Xbox also went down, while US users reported issues with Venmo and Coinbase.

Even Amazon’s own platforms were hit, including its website, Alexa speakers and Ring doorbells. Some news organisations, such as The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, also faced disruptions.

AWS engineers began working immediately to fix the issue and later confirmed full recovery. The company said it will release a detailed report on the cause of the outage, which served as a reminder of how dependent the modern world has become on the cloud.