Microsoft lapse cause worldwide outages in Azure data storage service

REDMOND, WASHINGTON (AP) - Microsoft unwittingly let an online security certificate expire Friday, triggering a worldwide outage in an online service that stores data for a wide range of business customers.

The sloppy housekeeping represents an embarrassing lapse for Microsoft. as the software maker tries to bring in more revenue from the storage service, which is called Azure.

The expired certificate is needed to properly run online services such as Azure which use an "https" protocol to block unauthorized users from accessing information.

Microsoft's failure to renew the security certificate apparently caused the Azure service to go down shortly before 4pm EST (5am Sat Singapore time) Friday. The breakdown prevented Azure customers from accessing files kept in Microsoft's data centres.