The risks of relying on large-scale cloud providers like AWS and Microsoft has become concerning. Their hard sell marketing of scalability, extensive resources, and cutting-edge technology alongside a lack of competitive vendors has led many organisations, particularly in the public sector, to entrust these giants with their critical operations. However, recent incidents have shed light on the inherent risks of such dependence, underscoring the need for alternative solutions like Tecnica Private Cloud.
Frequent Outages: A Cause for Concern
One of the most glaring risks with large-scale cloud providers is the frequency and impact of their outages. Microsoft, for instance, has experienced multiple outages that have significantly disrupted its cloud services. These interruptions are not mere inconveniences; they pose substantial risks to public sector clients who rely heavily on these services for critical operations.
A notable incident occurred on 19 July 2024, when a CrowdStrike software update caused major disruptions, taking millions of Windows devices offline globally. This included devices at airports, train stations, GP surgeries, and retailers. Although Microsoft noted that the issue was not its fault, the outage affected around 8.5 million devices (this number may be higher as it relies on users sending error reports) within its ecosystem, highlighting the vulnerability of centralised systems and the domino effect an outage can trigger.
Impact on Public Sector Services
The reliance on large-scale cloud services by public sector organisations underscores the risks associated with placing critical systems in the hands of a single provider. During the 19th July outage, NHS GP practices across the UK faced severe disruptions. The Emis Web IT system, used by scores of GP practices across the country, experienced significant issues, affecting access to patient records, appointment bookings, and prescription management. The NHS had to resort to contingency measures such as using paper records and handwritten prescriptions, emphasising the fragility and complexity of public cloud infrastructures.
The Cost and Recovery Challenge
Service outages not only cause operational disruptions but also lead to substantial recovery and service continuity costs. Public sector organisations must re-evaluate and mitigate cloud infrastructure resilience while implementing comprehensive disaster recovery plans. Many critical sectors, including policing, fire, and ambulance services, have increasingly relied on major cloud providers like Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft, often without thoroughly considering the potential risks and the need for specialised terms or prioritisation for critical responder capabilities.
Trust and Accountability
Frequent outages challenge the trust public sector organisations and private businesses place in large-scale providers like Microsoft. There is a growing call for greater accountability and transparency to reassure clients and improve service reliability. The trust deficit necessitates a reconsideration of reliance on these enterprises for critical operations.
Vulnerability of Centralised Systems
Large, centralised IT infrastructures can become single points of failure, affecting multiple sectors globally. The recent Microsoft outage highlights the fragility of such systems and the catastrophic impact they can have on public services. Government dependencies on these infrastructures raise concerns about security, prioritisation, and their suitability for critical services.
DDoS Attack on Microsoft Azure
Another incident that underscores the risks of relying on large-scale providers is the recent DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack on Microsoft Azure. This attack caused significant service disruptions, affecting numerous Azure and 365 users globally. DDoS attacks flood a network with traffic, overwhelming servers and making services unavailable. For public sector organisations, the implications are severe, as critical services such as healthcare, emergency services, and government operations can be paralysed and potentially result in loss of life.
Microsoft’s DDoS protection mechanisms were triggered during the attack; however, the response did not go as planned. Preliminary investigations indicated that an error in the implementation of these defences inadvertently worsened the situation. Instead of mitigating the attack, the error amplified its impact, causing more extensive disruptions than would have occurred otherwise. This further illustrates the vulnerability of large-scale cloud infrastructures to cyber threats and the need for more secure and resilient alternatives.
High-Risk Use and Microsoft’s Terms and Conditions
Despite Microsoft’s terms and conditions stating that their services are not intended for high-risk use, numerous critical public sector services, including police forces, rely on Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure.
Previously, critical services were supported by national systems and dedicated networks for emergency services, provided by a select pool of approved UK suppliers. A mutual aid system ensured seamless service continuity during failures managing serious incidents to ensure constant emergency response capability. This contrasts with recent public mainstream cloud outages, which failed to provide this critical level of service, highlighting the benefits of using private cloud solutions for such high-stakes operations.
Given these risks, Tecnica Private Cloud presents a compelling alternative. Here’s why:
Enhanced Reliability
Tecnica Private Cloud provides superior reliability through a controlled and isolated environment. Unlike large-scale providers, Tecnica’s infrastructure is designed to minimise single points of failure, ensuring greater continuity and resilience.
Customised Solutions
Tecnica delivers customised solutions specifically for public and private sector organisations. This approach ensures better alignment with unique requirements and regulatory standards, particularly for critical services.
Improved Security, Cost Efficiency, and Enterprise Capability
Tecnica Private Cloud is more secure, cost-effective, and offers enterprise-level capabilities compared to many other solutions. We implement robust security measures to protect sensitive data and operations from potential threats and disruptions while offering competitive pricing. Additionally, our private cloud supports comprehensive backup and replication services, including Microsoft 365, ensuring full-spectrum data protection and redundancy.
UK-Based Data Centres and Compliance
Our UK-based data centres deliver private cloud services such as :
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
- Software as a Service (SaaS)
- Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity (DRBC)
Recently, Microsoft advised Scottish policing that “it cannot guarantee the sovereignty of UK data.” In contrast, Tecnica Private Cloud ensures compliance with UK regulations by maintaining all data within the United Kingdom.
Greater Control
With Tecnica Private Cloud, organisations maintain greater control over their IT infrastructure. This control extends to disaster recovery plans and business continuity strategies, enabling more effective and immediate responses to potential outages.
Trust and Accountability
Tecnica emphasises transparency and accountability. Clients are reassured by our commitment to service reliability and our proactive approach to addressing issues before they escalate.
Conclusion
In summary, large, centralised IT infrastructures pose substantial risks as single points of failure. The global impact of such failures highlights the need for robust mitigation strategies to ensure resilience and continuity across multiple sectors. Tecnica Private Cloud stands out as a reliable, secure, and customisable option. By choosing Tecnica Private Cloud, organisations can mitigate the risks of centralised systems and ensure the continuity of critical operations, ultimately safeguarding public services and trust.
