Learn from Akamai's DNS Outage

When a Routine Update
Brought the Internet to a Halt

In 2021, a simple software configuration update at Akamai spiraled into a global DNS outage, taking down major websites. Incident Drill helps your team prepare for similar high-pressure scenarios by simulating the challenges and decisions faced during the Akamai outage.

Akamai | 2021 | Outage (CDN/DNS)

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The Fragility of DNS Infrastructure

The Akamai outage highlighted the critical yet often overlooked role of DNS in the internet's infrastructure. Seemingly minor configuration errors can have catastrophic consequences, impacting countless users and businesses globally.

PREPARE YOUR TEAM

How Incident Drill Prepares Your Team

Incident Drill provides a safe, realistic environment to practice responding to DNS-related incidents. Teams can walk through the steps needed to diagnose and mitigate the impact of similar outages, improving communication, decision-making, and technical skills under pressure.

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Realistic Simulations

Experience the pressure of a real DNS outage.

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Root Cause Analysis

Uncover the underlying causes of the Akamai incident.

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Improved Communication

Practice clear communication during high-stakes situations.

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Cross-Functional Collaboration

Foster collaboration between development, operations, and security teams.

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Performance Tracking

Measure your team's response time and decision-making effectiveness.

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Post-Incident Review

Learn from mistakes and improve future incident response.

WHY TEAMS PRACTICE THIS

Prepare for the Unthinkable

✓ Reduce downtime and minimize impact.
✓ Improve team coordination and communication.
✓ Identify and address vulnerabilities in your DNS infrastructure.
✓ Enhance incident response skills and preparedness.
✓ Gain confidence in handling complex technical challenges.
✓ Minimize financial and reputational damage.

Akamai DNS Outage Timeline

17:00 UTC

Routine software configuration update deployed.

17:05 UTC

Bug triggered in DNS system, causing DNS queries to fail. Error

17:10 UTC

Major websites become unreachable.

17:50 UTC

Mitigation measures implemented, DNS service restored. Resolved

How It Works

Step 1: Identify the Scope

Determine the extent of the DNS outage and impacted services.

Step 2: Isolate the Issue

Pinpoint the faulty configuration update as the root cause.

Step 3: Implement Mitigation

Rollback the update and restore DNS service.

Step 4: Post-Incident Analysis

Conduct a thorough review to prevent future incidents.

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Related Incidents

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When a Routine Update Brought the Internet to a Halt