Nationwide disruptions expose risks of technology dependence

Two separate technology disruptions this week caused major delays and interruptions for thousands of people across the country, raising questions about how dependent businesses and critical services have become on technology.

A disruption to Microsoft's services Thursday affected email and other online services, followed by a nationwide Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ground stop Friday after a temporary communications outage affected air traffic controllers.

Although the incidents were unrelated, experts say both highlight the vulnerabilities that can arise when critical systems fail.

Cybersecurity expert Dr. Mack Jackson Jr. says Thursday's disruption is an example of how infrastructure failures can affect businesses and consumers, even without a cyberattack.