Microsoft Outage Disrupts Email and Logistics Across 74 Countries

A major outage in Microsoft 365 cloud services, including Outlook email, began early Friday Japan time, disrupting users across 74 countries and regions. Microsoft attributed the issue to unexpected server stoppages and denied evidence of a cyberattack. The failure halted email and chat access for businesses, forcing workers to rely on phone calls and faxes. Delivery firm Sagawa Express suspended online baggage service reservations, and a Tokyo liquor store could not process orders, fearing missed customer communications. Microsoft said recovery is progressing gradually, but not all users have returned to normal service. The outage highlighted reliance on email for reservations, authentication, and logistics, with potential broader impacts on bookings and payments.