Microsoft Denies Cyberattack Behind Global Service Outage, Restoration Efforts Underway

Washington, November 13 (Daily Kiran) : Microsoft has stated that there is no evidence of a cyberattack linked to the global disruption affecting its email and online services. The company is actively working to restore full functionality. According to Microsoft, investigations have not revealed any malicious activity or cyber threats related to the outage.

The situation has significantly improved in North America, with services returning to normal across much of Europe and positive signs emerging in the Asia-Pacific region. However, some users may still experience intermittent access issues or delays in receiving emails.

An update released on Friday at 7:58 AM (EST) indicated ongoing service difficulties on Microsoft’s public service health page. The company is focused on stabilizing restored systems, bringing back remaining affected services, and reducing the backlog of pending emails. Microsoft emphasized that there is currently no evidence of any malicious activity associated with the incident.

Once the issue is fully resolved, Microsoft plans to issue a detailed report outlining the causes of the outage and the measures to prevent future occurrences. As of now, the company has not confirmed the final cause of the disruption or whether it has been completely resolved.

Charles Lamana, Microsoft’s Executive Vice President, mentioned late Thursday that there have been no indications thus far that the outage was due to a cyberattack or malicious activity. He expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to customers and assured that efforts are underway to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

The outage is reportedly affecting services reliant on Exchange Online and the email system, while features not directly related to these services are functioning normally. According to the service health notice, most core features of Microsoft Teams, such as calls, meetings, group chats, and channel messaging, remain unaffected. However, some calendar-related features may still encounter issues.

In a subsequent update at 7:09 AM on Friday, Microsoft announced an extended 48-hour email timeout policy to manage delays, ensuring that all pending messages are delivered securely.

The U.S. House of Representatives warned users that Microsoft’s Outlook services are experiencing global disruptions. The notice indicated that the technical team is collaborating with Microsoft, but no specific timeline for full restoration has been provided.

New York City Emergency Management also issued a warning that email communications to city agencies and Microsoft-based online services could be impacted, advising people to use alternative methods for urgent matters.

In India, IndiGo Airlines reported that the outage is affecting its email support services, although flight operations and other business activities are proceeding normally. The airline noted that its digital assistant, 6E Sky, and other support channels remain available.

Akasa Air has also warned of delays in email assistance, advising some customers that their messages may not be received promptly. Passengers were encouraged to use the airline’s care center or social media channels for immediate assistance.

In contrast, Air India stated that its flight services and communication systems have not been affected. The airline has implemented a temporary alternative for sending emails and is responding within the usual 24-hour timeframe.

Microsoft 365 is a cloud-based service that includes email, collaboration tools, and office applications. Exchange Online manages email, calendar, and contact services, meaning that any technical issues can impact other services reliant on this system.