Microsoft cloud users hit by global outage linked to Azure Active Directory issue Microsoft claims to have resolved a global outage that left users of various services within its cloud portfolio unable to access their business apps and platforms overnight Share this item with your network: By Published: 16 Mar 2021 9:09 Microsoft has identified a recent change to an authentication system as a possible cause of an outage that blighted users of its cloud-based portfolio of productivity and back-office apps across the world. User reports of technical difficulties with the software giant’s Microsoft 365 online productivity suite first started emerging around 7pm on Monday 15 March 2021, according to Downdetector’s outage tracking data.