On October 20, 2025, a significant internet outage disrupted global connectivity, affecting various online services worldwide. The incident primarily stemmed from technical issues at Amazon’s facilities in northern Virginia.
Impact of the Outage
Amazon confirmed the outage via its service status website, highlighting problems with two critical services: Amazon DynamoDB and Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2). These platforms are essential for companies that rely on cloud computing for storage and operational capacity.
Widespread Complaints
The gravity of the situation was evident on Downdetector, a platform that monitors online service disruptions. The website reported a sudden spike in complaints as users experienced service failures across multiple sectors.
Key Affected Services
- Amazon DynamoDB: A NoSQL database service that helps businesses manage and store data efficiently.
- Amazon EC2: A web service that provides scalable computing capacity in the cloud, essential for running applications.
Timeline of Events
The incident unfolded as follows:
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 08:34 | The Independent reported ongoing internet issues. |
| 08:38 | Downdetector indicated a surge in outage complaints. |
| 08:41 | Amazon acknowledged the disruption and its affected services. |
This disruption serves as a reminder of the vulnerabilities within cloud services and their impact on global connectivity. As businesses continue to rely on digital platforms, ensuring service reliability becomes increasingly crucial.
