Context In the last few days, several businesses, including aviation and banking sectors, experienced significant disruptions due to issues with Microsoft services. This outage affected various cloud-based services, including Microsoft 365, Azure, and Teams. The interruptions were caused by a combination of network configuration changes and infrastructure issues within Microsoft's global network (https://www.reedsmith.com/en/perspectives/2024/02/business-interruption-claims-in-2024-a-global-perspective) (https://status.cloud.microsoft/#:~:text=URL%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fstatus,100). The outage highlighted the increasing reliance of global industries on cloud services and the significant impact such disruptions can have on business operations, from communication breakdowns to halted transactions (https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240116375142/en/Allianz-Risk-Barometer-A-Cyber-Event-Is-the-Top-Global-Business-Risk-for-2024). While Microsoft worked to resolve the issues, it underscored the importance of robust cyber risk management and contingency planning in mitigating the effects of such outages (https://www.nortonrosefulbright.com/en/knowledge/publications/20530078/the-cyber-risks-faced-by-the-aviation-industry---ten-things-to-know). The recent Microsoft outages, which disrupted services like Microsoft 365, Teams, and Outlook, were primarily caused by a series of technical and security issues. Initially, Microsoft identified that a "wide-area networking (WAN) routing change" led to connectivity problems. This change triggered issues with network latency and timeouts, affecting how packets were forwarded across Microsoft's global network. This impacted users' ability to access various cloud services, including Azure, SharePoint, and OneDrive (https://www.bankinfosecurity.com/microsoft-365-cloud-service-outage-disrupts-users-worldwide-a-21017) (https://www.techradar.com/news/this-is-what-caused-the-recent-huge-microsoft-365-and-teams-outage). Additionally, Microsoft faced cyber risks, particularly distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. These attacks, launched by a group known as Storm-1359, aimed to disrupt services by overwhelming Microsoft's infrastructure with malicious traffic. The DDoS attacks targeted layer 7 of the OSI model, affecting HTTP(S) traffic and causing resource exhaustion and slowdowns (https://msrc.microsoft.com/blog/2023/06/microsoft-response-to-layer-7-distributed-denial-of-service-ddos-attacks/). To mitigate these issues, Microsoft rolled back the problematic network changes and implemented additional protections to prevent similar disruptions in the future. These measures included enhancing their Web Application Firewall (WAF) and adding stricter controls on network command executions to avoid unintended consequences from network changes (https://www.bankinfosecurity.com/microsoft-experiences-second-major-cloud-outage-in-2-weeks-a-21134) (https://www.techradar.com/news/this-is-what-caused-the-recent-huge-microsoft-365-and-teams-outage). In recent days, significant disruptions in Microsoft services have caused major headaches for businesses worldwide. Industries ranging from aviation to banking found themselves grappling with unexpected downtime, impacting critical operations and highlighting a growing reliance on cloud-based services. This article explores whether Microsoft should be held legally accountable for failing to ensure business continuity for its global customers. The Outage and Its Impacts The recent Microsoft outages affected a range of cloud services, including Microsoft 365, Azure, and Teams. These disruptions were triggered by a combination of network configuration changes and infrastructure issues within Microsoft’s global network. Specifically, a "wide-area networking (WAN) routing change" led to severe connectivity problems. This change caused network latency and timeouts, disrupting the forwarding of data packets across Microsoft's global network. As a result, users experienced significant issues accessing cloud services such as Azure, SharePoint, and OneDrive. In addition to technical glitches, Microsoft also faced cyber threats, particularly distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. A group known as Storm-1359 targeted Microsoft’s infrastructure with malicious traffic, aiming to exhaust resources and slow down services. These attacks impacted layer 7 of the OSI model, affecting HTTP(S) traffic and causing further disruptions. The Importance of Business Continuity These outages underscore the critical role that cloud services play in modern business operations. From communication breakdowns to halted transactions, the ripple effects of such disruptions can be severe. The aviation and banking sectors, in particular, experienced significant operational impacts, illustrating the high stakes involved. As businesses increasingly rely on cloud services for their day-to-day operations, the importance of robust cyber risk management and contingency planning becomes more apparent. Legal and Ethical Considerations Given the scale and impact of these disruptions, the question arises: should Microsoft be sued for not ensuring business continuity? On one hand, businesses rely on service level agreements (SLAs) with cloud providers like Microsoft to guarantee a certain level of uptime and reliability. When these expectations are not met, it can lead to substantial financial losses and operational challenges. Businesses may argue that Microsoft failed to uphold its end of the agreement, warranting legal action to recover damages. On the other hand, the complexity of managing a global cloud infrastructure means that occasional outages are inevitable. Microsoft did take immediate steps to mitigate the issues, rolling back problematic network changes and enhancing protections against future disruptions. These efforts demonstrate a commitment to resolving the issues and improving service reliability. Cyber Risk Management and Contingency Planning The outages highlight the need for businesses to adopt comprehensive cyber risk management strategies and contingency plans. Relying solely on a single cloud provider can expose businesses to significant risks. Diversifying cloud services and implementing robust backup systems can help mitigate the impact of such outages. Additionally, regular testing and updating of contingency plans can ensure that businesses are better prepared to handle unexpected disruptions. Conclusion While the recent Microsoft outages have caused significant disruptions, suing the tech giant may not be the most effective solution. Instead, businesses should focus on enhancing their own cyber risk management and contingency planning efforts. By diversifying cloud services and implementing robust backup systems, businesses can better protect themselves against future outages. At the same time, cloud providers like Microsoft must continue to improve their infrastructure and security measures to minimize the risk of such disruptions and maintain customer trust. The recent events serve as a stark reminder of the interconnected nature of modern business operations and the importance of resilience in the face of unexpected challenges. References https://www.reedsmith.com/en/perspectives/2024/02/business-interruption-claims-in-2024-a-global-perspective https://status.cloud.microsoft/#:~:text=URL%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fstatus,100). (https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240116375142/en/Allianz-Risk-Barometer-A-Cyber-Event-Is-the-Top-Global-Business-Risk-for-2024 https://www.nortonrosefulbright.com/en/knowledge/publications/20530078/the-cyber-risks-faced-by-the-aviation-industry---ten-things-to-know https://www.bankinfosecurity.com/microsoft-365-cloud-service-outage-disrupts-users-worldwide-a-21017 https://www.techradar.com/news/this-is-what-caused-the-recent-huge-microsoft-365-and-teams-outage https://msrc.microsoft.com/blog/2023/06/microsoft-response-to-layer-7-distributed-denial-of-service-ddos-attacks/

Moroccan financial institutions face a number of challenges in managing their operational risk, audit, and internal controls. These challenges include: The increasing complexity of financial products and services The growing number of regulations and compliance requirements A lack of awareness of operational risk and its impact on the financial institution. Inadequate systems and processes for managing operational risk. The increasing frequency and severity of cyberattacks The shortage of skilled staff Poor coordination between different departments within the financial institution. Here are some statistics: According to a recent study by the World Bank, operational risk costs Moroccan financial institutions an average of 1.5% of their annual revenue. The study also found that Moroccan financial institutions are more likely to experience operational risk events than their counterparts in other countries. A study by the World Bank found that operational risk costs the global financial sector an estimated $200 billion each year. The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision estimates that operational risk represents about 70% of the total risk faced by banks. A survey by the Association of Corporate Treasurers found that 60% of financial institutions have experienced an operational incident in the past year. The average cost of an operational incident is $1 million. M3T Consulting and RiskNucleus® System can help Moroccan financial institutions overcome these challenges by providing: A comprehensive operational risk management framework that is tailored to the specific needs of the institution A team of experienced consultants who can help implement the framework and train staff A state-of-the-art risk management software system called RiskNucleus® These statistics show that operational risk is a major challenge for financial institutions. M3T Consulting and RiskNucleus® System can help Moroccan financial institutions overcome these challenges and protect their businesses. RiskNucleus® is a in premises software system that helps financial institutions automate their operational risk management processes. The system provides a single view of risk across the entire organization, and it helps institutions to identify, assess, and mitigate risks. Contact M3T Consulting today to learn more about how we can help your institution overcome operational risk challenges. M3T Consulting and RiskNucleus® have a proven track record of helping financial institutions overcome operational risk challenges. We have helped over 100 institutions in the Middle East, Europe and North Africa region, and we have a team of experienced consultants who can help you implement a comprehensive operational risk management framework. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your institution.

Le risque op rationnel est un risque non financier qui peut avoir un impact n gatif sur la performance d'une organisation. Il peut être caus par une vari t de facteurs, tels que les erreurs humaines, les d faillances des systèmes, les catastrophes naturelles ou les actes de malveillance. Le secteur financier marocain est soumis à un cadre r glementaire strict en matière de gestion des risques, notamment le risque op rationnel. Ce cadre est bas sur les normes internationales d finies par le Comit de Bâle sur le contrôle bancaire (BCBS). Statistiques Selon une tude de Bank Al-Maghrib, le risque op rationnel repr sente environ 30 % du capital requis par les banques marocaines. Les principaux risques op rationnels auxquels sont expos es les banques marocaines sont les suivants : Les erreurs humaines (25 %) Les d faillances des systèmes (20 %) Les risques li s aux systèmes d'information (15 %) Les risques li s aux clients (10 %) Les risques li s aux produits (10 %) Évolutions Le management du risque op rationnel a connu un d veloppement significatif dans le secteur financier marocain au cours des dernières ann es. Cette volution est due à plusieurs facteurs, notamment : La mise en œuvre des normes internationales du BCBS La pression des investisseurs et des r gulateurs La prise de conscience croissante des risques op rationnels Perspectives Le management du risque op rationnel continuera à se d velopper dans le secteur financier marocain dans les ann es à venir. Cette volution sera port e par plusieurs facteurs, notamment : La digitalisation des activit s bancaires La complexification des produits et services financiers L' mergence de nouveaux risques op rationnels Recommandations Pour renforcer le management du risque op rationnel dans le secteur financier marocain, il est recommand de mettre en œuvre les mesures suivantes : D velopper une culture de la gestion des risques au sein des institutions financières Investir dans les technologies de l'information et de la communication Renforcer la coop ration entre les institutions financières et les r gulateurs Sources et liens Bank Al-Maghrib, "Rapport sur le risque op rationnel dans le secteur bancaire marocain" (2022) Comit de Bâle sur le contrôle bancaire, "Basel III: International framework for liquidity risk measurement, standards and monitoring" (2013) International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB), "International Standards on Auditing (ISAs)" International Organization for Standardization (ISO), "ISO 31000:2018 Risk management - Guidelines" Conclusion Le management du risque op rationnel est une composante essentielle de la gestion d'une institution financière. Le secteur financier marocain a fait des progrès significatifs dans ce domaine, mais il reste encore des efforts à faire pour renforcer la culture de la gestion des risques et pour s'adapter aux nouveaux risques op rationnels.