Prepared By: Benoi Nair

The disruption was caused by a faulty sensor configuration update from CrowdStrike

Dubai, UAE:

On July 19, 2024, Union Coop experienced disruptions at its retail outlets due to a faulty sensor configuration update by cybersecurity provider ‘CrowdStrike’. The update inadvertently triggered continuous system restarts on Union Coop’s computer systems and point-of-sale (POS) machines. The issue led to a wider IT outage affecting businesses, airlines, media outlets, and government agencies globally.

“We understand the importance of a seamless shopping experience, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused,” stated Dr. Suhail Al Bastaki, Chief Community Relations Officer at Union Coop.

Upon detecting the issue, Union Coop’s IT team promptly responded by isolating affected POS machines from the network to facilitate offline operations and maintain service continuity. Simultaneously, technical and on-ground staff worked diligently to resolve the disruption.

“Our IT team acted swiftly by contacting CrowdStrike, identifying the root cause, and implementing an effective workaround. As a result, the issue has been successfully resolved, and our systems are now functioning normally,” confirmed Dr. Suhail Al Bastaki.

Union Coop reaffirms its commitment to delivering exceptional shopping experiences to its customers and assures them that preventive measures are being implemented to mitigate future incidents.