No disruption to Kuwaiti government services: Minister Al-Omar

KUWAIT CITY, July 20: In response to the global software glitch affecting CrowdStrike services, the Kuwaiti government has swiftly established an operations room to monitor and address the situation. This initiative, led by Minister of Commerce and Industry and Minister of State for Communications Affairs Omar Saud Al-Omar, follows directives from His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah. The operations room includes participation from the Central Agency for Information Technology, the Communications and Information Technology Regulatory Authority, and the National Cybersecurity Agency.

A hotline has been set up to provide immediate support and ensure the efficiency and continuity of electronic systems across various state agencies. Minister Al-Omar emphasized the government's commitment to maintaining stable and secure digital infrastructure during this global disruption.

In a press statement to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Minister Al-Omar clarified that the crisis was caused by a glitch in a CrowdStrike system update, not by a cybersecurity attack. The operations room has identified entities using CrowdStrike services and is overseeing necessary measures to mitigate any impact. Direct communication channels have been established with both CrowdStrike and Microsoft to ensure swift resolution and support.

Minister Al-Omar reassured the public that government agencies in Kuwait have not been affected by the outage. He credited this stability to the continuous efforts in enhancing and securing the government's electronic systems and infrastructure. Information security and the protection of digital infrastructure remain top priorities, and the implemented precautionary measures and advanced security systems have proven effective in handling such challenges.

Joint government efforts are ongoing to secure vital systems and services, and coordination with international and local entities continues to assess and limit the impact of the disruption on Kuwait's digital infrastructure. Technical teams are working around the clock to monitor developments and address any issues.

Minister Al-Omar urged citizens and institutions to rely on official news sources for accurate updates and to avoid spreading rumors or unconfirmed information. He assured that all e-government services are operating efficiently without any disruption, expressing gratitude to the technical teams for their diligent efforts.

"We will continue to cooperate with our international and local partners to enhance our cybersecurity and ensure the quality and safety of our electronic systems and services," Minister Al-Omar concluded.