The internet is a vast, powerful, invisible web of connections that link our lives together in so many ways. 🌎 No doubt it is a marvel of human ingenuity. It is technical networked wizardry that has changed what it means to be a human, forever. Most of us use it and rely on it every day.
But like all marvels, it carries with it a hidden frailty, a delicate balance between function and failure. This computer network processes and produces billions of exchanges around the globe non-stop and by the hour. And – for all its power – the internet is as nebulous as the proverbial house of cards. ⚠️ One wrong move, one bad command, and huge chunks of the web can vanish, if only temporarily.
What makes the internet so fragile? First, understand that the internet isn’t just one thing. It’s a network of networks, a collection of millions of smaller nodes that work together to form the whole. When you send a message, that message travels through a labyrinth of servers, cables, and satellites. If any of those pieces fail, your message might not reach its destination. This is what we mean when we talk about the friable nature of the web.
🚨 EXAMPLE #1 – In December 2021, Amazon Web Services (AWS) experienced a significant outage that lasted several hours, disrupting operations for major companies like Netflix, Disney, Spotify, DoorDash, and Venmo. The issue stemmed from an automation error that caused multiple systems to malfunction, leading to widespread panic and service disruptions. This incident highlighted that even the largest and most reliable cloud providers, like AWS, can experience unexpected downtime, affecting users’ access to cloud services.
Now, think of the services you rely on daily: banking, communications, professional productivity, entertainment and streaming services, even our classrooms. These aren’t just our modern ways and luxuries; they’re lifelines. And the internet is the thread that holds them all together. Yet, that thread can fray. We’ve seen it happen. A cyberattack, a natural disaster, and suddenly, entire regions and availability zones are cut off from the digital world. The impact isn’t just about missing a tweet or a Netflix show. It’s about businesses losing money, emergency services going dark, and people being isolated from the connections they rely on.
🚨 EXAMPLE #2 – In 2021, Facebook experienced a major outage that took down its main social network, Instagram, and WhatsApp, leaving billions of users without access for about six hours. The issue was caused by a configuration change in Facebook's backbone routers, which are crucial for directing traffic across its data centers. This long downtime highlighted the vulnerability even massive platforms can face due to technical errors.
Another dimension – and a critical aspect – of this risk assessment are the SCADA systems: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition computer networks. SCADA are the unseen hands and brains that keep our power grids running, our water flowing, and our trains running on time. SCADA systems depend on the internet to function. If the internet goes down, SCADA systems go down. Imagine your city without electricity or clean water for a few days only because the network that controls these systems is offline. It’s a chilling thought, but it’s a reality of which we should be aware. Network, hardware, and software failure are only part of the risk, we also need to be aware of malicious actors, hackers, bugs, and bad code.
But it’s not just SCADA systems that are at risk. 🌎 The internet’s architecture itself is vulnerable. The internet is built on protocols and systems designed decades ago, back when no one could have predicted the scale of today’s digital landscape. These outdated foundations make the internet susceptible to attacks and breakdowns. A single vulnerability can be exploited, leading to cascading failures across the network.
🚨 EXAMPLE #3 – In June 2021, the cloud service provider Fastly experienced a network outage that took down several major global news websites, including the New York Times and CNN, as well as retailers like Target and Amazon. The disruption was caused by a faulty software update due to a misconfiguration, which affected multiple servers and led to widespread service interruptions.
Finally, there’s the human factor. The internet is fragile because we are fragile. We make mistakes. We click on links we shouldn’t, we forget to update our systems, we fail to secure our networks, or enter the wrong command. These human errors can open the door to cyberattacks, spreading viruses that can bring down even the most robust systems.
So what can we do? We can start by recognizing and accepting the risk. We must continue to invest in more secure infrastructure, update old systems, educate ourselves about these potentials, and work together to continue to make things more resilient. We can build redundancy into our networks, ensuring that if one part fails, another can take its place. This is one massive benefit for organizations moving to the cloud.
🚨 EXAMPLE #4 – On July 19th, 2024 about 8.5 million computers worldwide suddenly crashed, displaying blue screens and leaving businesses struggling. The outage was linked to Crowdstrike, a security vendor for Microsoft. A bug in a routine software update caused the widespread issue. Unfortunately, the bug couldn't be removed automatically, requiring each affected computer to be manually rebooted in safe mode. The severity of this outage led to calls for Crowdstrike's CEO, George Kurtz, to testify before Congress to explain the incident and its impact on global IT infrastructure.
Regardless of these periodic issues, the internet was built to keep working even if part of it fails, allowing other parts to take over seamlessly. This resilience was proven in October 2012 when Hurricane Sandy hit the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Despite significant damage, according to the internet monitoring company Renesys, only about 5% of networks in Manhattan were unreachable between October 29 and 30. Importantly, these issues were mostly confined to Manhattan and didn’t spread to the surrounding areas. [1]
The internet stands as a testament to human ingenuity, bringing together creativity and collaboration on a global scale. Yet, this incredible network is also imperfect, ⚠️ vulnerable to disruptions that could halt our modern world. We must recognize its delicate nature and take steps to protect and sustain it. By handling the internet with the care it deserves, we can ensure it continues to connect us, powering our daily lives and future innovations. It's a responsibility we all share, one that will keep us connected as we navigate an increasingly digital world.
McPhillies TECHLAB. | 2024 Greg O’Toole | techlab.otoole.info
[1] Null, L., & Lobur, J. (2024). Essentials of Computer Organization and Architecture (6th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
