# Unusual events >A conversation with PerplexityAI >PerplexityAI. (March, 2024). Perplexity [Large language model]. https://www.perplexity.ai ## Context: ![image](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/r10zbg7pT.png) Unusual events that may cause global disruptions in Cloud Services include: 1. **Cloud Outages and Service Degradations**: These can be caused by a variety of factors, including hardware failures, power outages, network issues, and software bugs. For instance, Microsoft and AWS experienced significant outages in 2023, affecting global connectivity and leading to service degradations across multiple services such as Azure, Teams, Outlook, and SharePoint. These outages were attributed to high levels of packet loss and BGP route changes, highlighting the complexity and interdependence of cloud infrastructure[1][2][6]. 2. **Cloud Attacks and Security Breaches**: Security breaches in cloud services can lead to widespread disruptions. Common causes for these breaches include publicly accessible storage buckets, misconfigured access control lists (ACLs) and bucket policies, unencrypted storage data, and vulnerabilities exploited by attackers. Such incidents underscore the importance of robust security measures and configurations to protect cloud storage and services from unauthorized access and data exfiltration[3]. 3. **Macro Events Impacting Digital Strategies**: Macro events, such as major storms, can also lead to cloud service disruptions. For example, a major storm in the Netherlands caused a partial outage of Azure's West Europe region for about 8 hours, affecting customers of various services. These events highlight the physical vulnerabilities of cloud infrastructure to environmental factors and the need for comprehensive disaster recovery and resilience planning[5]. 4. **Human Error**: Misconfigurations by cloud service providers or users can lead to outages. For example, incorrect settings or changes can inadvertently make cloud storage publicly accessible or disrupt service operations. Human error remains a significant factor in cloud outages, emphasizing the need for careful management and oversight of cloud configurations[6]. 5. **Cyber Threats**: DDoS attacks, hacking, and harmful viruses are among the cyber threats that can cause cloud outages. These attacks can overload servers or exploit vulnerabilities, leading to service disruptions. The increasing prevalence of cybercrime as a cause of unplanned data center downtime highlights the importance of cybersecurity measures to protect cloud services[2]. 6. **Natural Calamities**: Events such as earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes can impact cloud service providers' physical infrastructure, leading to outages. While less common, these events can have a significant impact on the availability of cloud services, underscoring the importance of geographic diversification and disaster preparedness[2]. These unusual events demonstrate the range of challenges that cloud service providers face in maintaining service continuity and the importance of robust planning, security, and infrastructure resilience to mitigate the risks of global disruptions. 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