Learn from Amazon Web Services

When the Cloud
Fell: The 2011 AWS East Outage

In 2011, a network capacity change and software bugs triggered a multi-day outage in Amazon's US-East region, impacting countless websites and resulting in data loss. Incident Drill allows teams to practice responding to similar crises in a safe, controlled environment, building resilience and preventing future disasters.

Amazon Web Services | 2011 | Outage (Cloud)

Practice This Scenario →

The Ever-Present Threat of Cloud Outages

Cloud outages can cripple businesses, leading to significant financial losses, reputational damage, and lost customer trust. Teams need to be prepared to handle these complex situations effectively.

PREPARE YOUR TEAM

Simulate, Learn, and Prevail with Incident Drill

Incident Drill provides realistic incident simulations based on real-world events like the 2011 AWS East Outage. Our platform allows your team to practice incident response, improve communication, and identify vulnerabilities in your systems before they become critical issues.

🔥

Realistic Simulations

Experience the pressure of a real outage with our meticulously crafted simulations.

🧑‍💻

Hands-on Exercises

Engage in practical exercises to reinforce your understanding of incident response protocols.

💬

Collaborative Environment

Work together with your team to solve complex problems and improve communication skills.

📈

Performance Analytics

Track your team's performance and identify areas for improvement with detailed analytics.

📚

Curated Learning Resources

Access a library of articles, videos, and documentation to deepen your knowledge of incident management.

🛡️

Safe Training Ground

Practice incident response without the risk of impacting your production environment.

WHY TEAMS PRACTICE THIS

Master Incident Response & Prevent Costly Downtime

✓ Improved Incident Response Time
✓ Reduced Downtime Costs
✓ Enhanced Team Communication
✓ Stronger System Resilience
✓ Increased Customer Trust
✓ Proactive Vulnerability Identification

2011 AWS East Outage Timeline

Morning

Network capacity change initiated.

Shortly After

Software bug triggers cascading failures. ERROR

Hours Later

EC2 and EBS services in US-East region experience widespread downtime.

Days Later

Services gradually restored. Small percentage of EBS volumes permanently lost. DATA LOSS

How It Works

Step 1: Simulate

Experience the AWS East Outage scenario in a controlled environment.

Step 2: Respond

Practice your incident response procedures and communication strategies.

Step 3: Analyze

Review your team's performance and identify areas for improvement.

Step 4: Improve

Implement changes to your systems and processes to prevent future outages.

EXPLORE MORE

Related Incidents

Ready to Build a More Resilient Team?

Join the Incident Drill waitlist and be among the first to experience the power of realistic incident simulations. Prepare your team for anything.

Get Early Access →

✓ Founding client discounts ✓ Shape the roadmap ✓ Direct founder support

When the Cloud Fell: The 2011 AWS East Outage