Amazon Web Services has said it has now fixed the issue that cause chaos on this Monday morning for many.
The outage brought down hundreds of websites and apps including HMRC, Lloyds Bank, Snapchat, Roblox, the Post Office, and Xero.
HMRC told the BBC: “We’re aware that customers are having problems accessing our online services, as part of global issues affecting Amazon Web Services. We’re working urgently with them on this matter.
“Our phonelines are currently busy as a result, so for anything that isn’t urgent we recommend calling at a later time.”
Melanie Pizzey, CEO and Founder of the Global Payroll Alliance said: “The ongoing outage affecting key Amazon Web Services is a powerful reminder of just how dependent the modern world has become on a small number of digital platforms. While the public tends to focus on visible disruptions to shopping, entertainment or communications, the hidden threat lies much deeper, particularly in critical functions like payroll. For example, we’re already seeing reports that Xero (accounting software), Square (payment tools), and HMRC are all being impacted by this outage.
“Today, the vast majority of payroll systems are cloud-based, relying on third-party infrastructure for everything from time tracking and data processing to payment distribution. When platforms like AWS go down, there is an immediate risk that salaries will not be calculated correctly, processed on time, or delivered at all. In many cases, a delay in payroll, even by a day, can create serious consequences for both employees and employers, including financial hardship, compliance breaches, and loss of trust.”
