Microsoft 365 outage disrupts global work, from fax machines to early exits

A worldwide Microsoft 365 outage on Nov. 12 disrupted services like Outlook, Teams, and Copilot for businesses and individuals, with full restoration still underway a day later. Microsoft confirmed the issue was technical, not related to cyber or AI. Workers coped in varied ways, from using fax machines in Japan and healthcare settings to employers sending staff home early. Some users welcomed the break from emails, while others faced delays, with productivity losses prompting questions about insurance claims. The outage highlighted the risks of relying on a single service provider, with experts urging companies to develop contingency plans. Japan's continued use of fax machines, owned by nearly a third of households in 2023, was cited as an example of maintaining analog backups.