Microsoft outage LIVE: The disruption, which began on Thursday, affected email access, calendar functions and workplace communication, with several businesses and government agencies. Microsoft and Air Space Intelligence, the company behind the FAA's new SMART system, said the nationwide ground stop wasn't due to their products. US Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has ruled out any link between Microsoft's global outage and the FAA's nationwide ground stop, dismissing cyberattack fears.