Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a subsidiary of Amazon that provides cloud computing services (networking, storage, software, etc.) to companies and governments.
And while AWS’s server farms throughout the world provide select security services for its customers, many aspects of security are the responsibility of the customer.
In October 2025, some AWS customers woke up one morning unable to access certain services.
Amazon Alexas weren’t working, Ring cameras were dead, banking apps wouldn’t load, even some “smart” coffee makers were useless.
Most people assumed their home internet wasn’t working, but it was much bigger than that.
Amazon Web Services had crashed, and the world shut down for many people.
Flights were delayed.
Banking transactions stalled.
Some people couldn’t open the front door of their home.
Thankfully, the AWS failure only lasted a few hours, but the damage was done.
Millions of people and more than 2,000 companies around the world were affected by the AWS outage.
It’s a wake-up call for a world that has become overdependent on technology.
And it’s forced people to grapple with the question of what would happen if a fix was a longtime coming.
We all know how fragile internet connectivity can be, so if AWS were still down today, what would the world be doing to survive?
Here are a few ways you can prepare for another internet outage:
Clouds are weak:
More than 2.3 billion people around the world use cloud storage to store personal files.
The problem is that three companies control 70% of the world’s cloud storage (30% is controlled by Amazon, 40% by Google and Microsoft).
That’s a lot of eggs in a few baskets…
Baskets that can be assaulted by hackers and government cyber warriors.
So, when it comes to important documents, don’t just store them on the cloud.
Always have paper back-ups that you can take with you during a bug out situation.
You don’t own anything:
When the internet goes down, many forms of payment run through centralized digital systems.
This is true with your banking apps.
Imagine how bad it would be if you were permanently locked out of your financial app.
This is the danger of operating in a cashless society.
And it’s why I recommend keeping emergency cash in your home and bug out bag.
Be prepared to barter and buy things locally with nothing but cash transactions.
Of course, have gold and silver too.
Prepare like the internet doesn’t exist:
More than 85% of America’s infrastructure – from banks to telecom oversight and security – are weak.
This is why you should be prepared for the internet to fail long-term.
So, you must have offline backups of everything you need.
From paper maps, two-way radios, solar chargers, have items that work without the internet.
Consider creating PDF documents of generator instructions, personal documents, and even a contact list of people you can reach out to during a disaster.
Build local connections that don’t require technology to communicate.
Think about going completely offline and the many things that would be affected.
When society relies so much on technology it can have devastating consequences when it fails.
The recent AWS outage should serve as a wake-up call for the world.
Being prepared starts at home.
If you don’t have offline back-ups, you’ll be in real trouble when the next major internet failure happens.
