On October 29, 2025, a significant AWS outage disrupted various essential services across multiple sectors, including banking and governmental operations. Major financial institutions like Capital One experienced online banking issues, preventing users from accessing their accounts or transferring funds.
AWS Disputes Outage Claims
In response to the widespread reports of outages, AWS released a statement asserting that their services were operating normally. They emphasized that the most reliable data regarding service availability comes from the AWS Health Dashboard.
Impact on Other Services
The outage extended beyond AWS, with Microsoft services also experiencing disruptions. Key applications, including Outlook, were affected. Games hosted on Microsoft’s Azure platform, such as Minecraft and Halo, also faced downtime.
Status of LastPass Services
Despite the disruptions, LastPass reported that its secure database remained operational. However, users attempting to create new accounts were unable to do so due to the ongoing outage.
Government Response in the U.K.
The U.K. government is reportedly accelerating its plans for managing future cloud outages. According to Ian Murray, the Digital Government and Data Minister, there is an urgent need for strategies to address these recurring disruptions.
Recurring Issues with AWS Infrastructure
Experts have raised concerns about the fragility of AWS infrastructure, particularly in the US-EAST-1 region, which is heavily reliant on DNS systems located in Northern Virginia. This concentration of digital resources creates vulnerabilities that can lead to widespread outages.
Current Reports of Disruptions
As of the latest updates, approximately 78% of outage reports indicated issues linked to the US-EAST-1 region. Banks and government services in the U.K. experienced significant impacts, echoing trends observed during previous outages.
- Banking services disrupted: Capital One and other banks
- Microsoft services affected: Outlook, Minecraft, Halo
- LastPass secure database operational; marketing site down
- U.K. government plans for cloud outages expedited
- Predominantly affected area: US-EAST-1
This incident underscores the critical dependence on cloud services and the need for robust contingency plans to mitigate future disruptions.
