Global AWS Outage Disrupts Internet: Cloud Technology Explained

A major disruption at Amazon Web Services, the global cloud computing giant, has caused widespread paralysis across the internet. This incident highlights the critical role AWS technology plays in supporting essential online services and infrastructure worldwide.

Cloud Outage Puts Digital Dependency in the Spotlight

A sweeping disruption on Amazon Web Services (AWS) this past Monday, October 20, 2025, sent a jolt through the digital economy. With widely used platforms such as Snapchat, Fortnite, Airbnb, and Reddit rendered inaccessible for several hours, the event underscored just how exposed our interconnected societies are to failures within these largely unseen, but crucial, cloud infrastructures.

The Big Three: An American Stronghold

Behind the scenes, the power dynamics of the global cloud sector remain intensely skewed. According to data released by Synergy Research Group, AWS retained a commanding 30% share of the worldwide market during the second quarter of 2025. Trailing it, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud captured 20% and 13%, respectively. These three, known industry-wide as the “Big Three”, set the pace for a field marked by relentless expansion. Alongside them, other US players like Oracle and IBM compete with Asian heavyweights such as Alibaba, Tencent, and Huawei. Amidst this, Europe’s own OVHcloud continues its struggle to maintain relevance, while so-called “hyperscalers” – global giants capable of massive investments in data centers – steadily erode local providers’ footholds.

Diversified Cloud Models, Uneven Adoption

Businesses today can choose from three main models:

• SaaS (Software-as-a-Service): Online apps like Gmail and Zoom – especially widespread in the European Union.
• IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-Service): Flexible computing resources for companies to install their own solutions.
• PaaS (Platform-as-a-Service): An intermediate approach, less popular in Europe, offering partial software outsourcing for app development.

Recent statistics from Eurostat show that in 2023, 43% of European businesses used at least one cloud service. Yet, the scale of adoption differs greatly: while 78% of large enterprises rely on cloud solutions, only 42% of small firms do. Most typically utilize these platforms for email, file storage, and cybersecurity.

Europe’s Strategic Dilemma and Future Prospects

Despite steady growth across the continent, a tough question persists: can Europe carve out a truly sovereign digital future? Competing with American financial and logistical might requires investments that often stretch into billions of euros—a daunting prospect for regional actors. Ultimately, incidents like the recent AWS outage serve as stark reminders: even as the cloud becomes the backbone of our economies, its vulnerabilities remain ever-present.