The Department of Information and Communications Technology said Friday it is assessing the impact on local companies and the broader economy of the global software outage caused by an alleged faulty update at Microsoft by its cybersecurity provider.
“This outage is affecting companies globally, including those in the Philippines, that use the said cybersecurity product. We assure the public that the Department does not use the same cybersecurity service provider and that no DICT systems or assets have been affected,” DICT assistant secretary for Legal Affairs and spokesman Renato Paraiso said in a statement. “We are in continuous communication with relevant stakeholders to obtain detailed information and assess the full impact of this incident,” he added.
Pre-market trading on Microsoft has sent shares of the software company lower as reports that software outage has disrupted services of airports, airlines, banks, supermarkets, gas stations and other industries surfaced. Cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike shares were also sharply lower during pre-market trading after the company was linked to the ongoing issue at Microsoft.
Several local banks such as Bank of the Philippine Islands, Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., and Union Bank of the Philippines have issued advisories that said the ongoing global issue at Microsoft could cause longer waiting time in their branches, delays in crediting of certain transactions, or temporary unavailability of some bank products.
The banks, however, assured that their clients will continue to have access to their funds through automated teller machines, or deposit funds through cash accept machines.
Computer systems of Cebu Pacific and Air Asia were also affected, causing long queues at the airport. There were no reported flight cancellations, however.
