Discover the Causes Behind Amazon AWS Outage and the Widespread Impact on Major Apps
A recent outage at Amazon Web Services (AWS) significantly impacted global internet functionality, affecting numerous applications and platforms. From banking services to gaming sites, millions experienced disruptions before normal operations resumed.
Details of the AWS Outage
On October 20, 2025, at 07:11 GMT, AWS suffered a major outage originating from its primary data center in Virginia. The incident began following a technical update to the API of DynamoDB, a crucial database service. This error led to issues with the Domain Name System (DNS), which is vital for translating website names into IP addresses.
Scope of Impact
The outage impacted 113 different services, causing widespread malfunction across various platforms. By 10:11 GMT, AWS announced that services were returning to normal. However, users were still experiencing delays as the backlog of messages was processed.
- Major platforms affected:
- Snapchat
- Apple TV
- Signal
- Zoom
- Roblox
- Fortnite
- Venmo
- Starbucks
- Media organizations impacted:
- Associated Press
- The New York Times
- The Wall Street Journal
Understanding the Cloud
A cloud service like AWS allows users to store and manage data remotely. Companies rent computing power and resources from AWS, which underpins many online operations. AWS reigns as the largest cloud service provider globally, with DynamoDB serving as a pivotal component for data storage.
Expert Insights on the Outage
Joshua Mahony, a market analyst, indicated that these outages impact various sectors but are generally resolved quickly. He noted that despite the challenges, users are unlikely to cease using AWS due to its entrenched presence in the market, commanding a 30% share.
Human Error as the Cause
Many companies reliant on AWS faced similar outages due to interconnected dependencies. According to cybersecurity expert Bryson Bort, such incidents typically stem from human error rather than cyberattacks, alleviating concerns about malicious interference.
Amazon’s Response
Following the outage, AWS took swift action to rectify the situation. Engineers were engaged immediately to restore services. AWS plans to release a detailed report on the event, outlining the causes and recovery efforts.
This incident highlights the precarious nature of modern-day infrastructure, underscoring how deeply many applications depend on AWS and similar cloud services.
