China’s Strategic Approach to Cybersecurity and National Security: Lessons Learned from the Global Tech Outage

Chinese Organizations Avoid Global Outages Amid Microsoft Chaos

While countries around the world faced widespread outages due to Microsoft’s recent blue screen of death incident, China emerged relatively unscathed thanks to its strategic handling of foreign tech operations.

The key reason behind China’s ability to avoid major disruptions lies in the fact that CrowdStrike, the cybersecurity firm at the center of the chaos, is not widely used in the country. This is mainly due to the firm’s outspoken views on cyber-security threats posed by Beijing, which has led very few Chinese organizations to purchase software from American companies like CrowdStrike.

Moreover, China’s reliance on domestic cloud providers such as Alibaba, Tencent, and Huawei, rather than Microsoft, also played a significant role in mitigating the impact of the global outage. Reports of disruptions in China mainly affected foreign firms or organizations, with some users complaining about issues at international chain hotels like Sheraton, Marriott, and Hyatt in Chinese cities.

Over the years, China has been steadily replacing foreign IT systems with domestic alternatives, creating a parallel network often referred to as the “splinternet.” This move, aimed at bolstering national security and reducing dependence on foreign technology, has insulated essential services like banking and aviation from global disruptions.

Experts like cybersecurity analyst Josh Kennedy White commend China’s strategic approach to managing foreign tech operations, highlighting the country’s ability to safeguard critical services through local partnerships like the one between Microsoft and 21Vianet in China.

In light of the recent chaos caused by Microsoft’s outages, the state-run Global Times newspaper published an editorial criticizing the US for imposing restrictions on Chinese technology while neglecting the security risks posed by its own companies. The editorial also questioned the reliance on internet giants for network security, warning against monopolies that could introduce new security vulnerabilities.

While some workers in China did experience disruptions, a small number expressed gratitude to Microsoft for inadvertently providing them with an early vacation. The trend “Thank you Microsoft for an early vacation” gained traction on Chinese social media platform Weibo, with users sharing images of blue error screens they encountered during the outage.

In essence, China’s strategic approach to technology management and its focus on domestic alternatives have shielded the country from the far-reaching consequences of global tech disruptions, highlighting the importance of safeguarding national security and reducing reliance on foreign systems.