Learn from Microsoft Azure

When a Leap Year Brought Azure to its Knees
Can Your Team Handle the Pressure?

In 2012, a subtle bug in Azure's certificate handling code triggered a global outage, impacting countless users. Incident Drill helps your team proactively practice responding to similar incidents, identifying weaknesses before they become real-world crises.

Microsoft Azure | 2012 | Outage (Cloud)

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The Hidden Dangers of Edge Cases

The Azure Leap Year Outage highlights the critical importance of robust testing and validation, especially for edge cases and date-sensitive logic. Failing to account for these scenarios can lead to widespread service disruptions and significant reputational damage.

PREPARE YOUR TEAM

Simulate, Learn, and Improve with Incident Drill

Incident Drill provides realistic incident simulations based on real-world events like the Azure Leap Year Outage. Teams can collaboratively diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve these simulations, building practical experience and improving their incident response capabilities. Practice handling similar scenarios in a safe, controlled environment.

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Realistic Simulations

Experience incidents based on real-world events like the Azure Leap Year Outage.

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Collaborative Environment

Work together as a team to diagnose and resolve incidents.

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Detailed Analytics

Track team performance and identify areas for improvement.

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Post-Incident Reviews

Conduct thorough reviews to learn from each simulation.

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Knowledge Base

Access a library of incident scenarios and best practices.

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Time-boxed Scenarios

Practice responding under pressure with realistic time constraints.

WHY TEAMS PRACTICE THIS

Master Incident Response

✓ Improve incident detection and diagnosis skills
✓ Reduce mean time to resolution (MTTR)
✓ Enhance team collaboration and communication
✓ Identify and address system vulnerabilities
✓ Build confidence in handling critical incidents
✓ Minimize the impact of future outages

Azure Leap Year Outage Timeline

Feb 29, 2012 (00:00 UTC)

Certificate expiration bug triggers

Feb 29, 2012 (Early Morning UTC)

Critical Services Fail

Feb 29, 2012 (Ongoing)

Azure services experience widespread outages

Days Following

Root cause identified and fix deployed

How It Works

Step 1: Simulate

Run a realistic Azure Leap Year Outage simulation.

Step 2: Diagnose

Identify the root cause of the incident using provided tools.

Step 3: Resolve

Implement solutions to restore service and prevent recurrence.

Step 4: Review

Analyze the team's performance and identify areas for improvement.

EXPLORE MORE

Related Incidents

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When a Leap Year Brought Azure to its KneesCan Your Team Handle the Pressure?