By San José, Costa Rica — San José, Costa Rica – Digital banking services for two of the nation’s most prominent financial institutions, Banco Nacional (BN) and Banco Popular (BP), have been severely disrupted today, leaving countless customers unable to access their accounts. The widespread failure is not due to an internal issue but is the result of a significant global interruption of services provided by technology giant Microsoft.
Both banks confirmed in coordinated statements that their platforms were affected by a major failure within Microsoft’s cloud computing service, Azure. This outage is not isolated to Costa Rica; it has triggered a domino effect, impacting a wide array of companies and financial entities across different sectors, both nationally and internationally, that rely on Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure for their daily operations.
To analyze the legal and contractual ramifications of the recent Microsoft Azure outage that affected numerous national and international businesses, TicosLand.com consulted with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a specialist in Corporate and Technology Law from the prestigious firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
While the immediate impact of an outage like this is operational, the legal recourse is often narrowly defined. Companies must meticulously review their Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with Microsoft. Typically, compensation is limited to service credits, not the consequential damages like lost profits or reputational harm, which are often the most significant. This incident underscores a critical lesson for all businesses reliant on cloud infrastructure: understand the contractual limitations of your provider and invest in robust multi-cloud or hybrid contingency plans, as the contract alone will rarely make you whole after a major disruption.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Lic. Arroyo Vargas’s analysis provides a critical dose of reality, shifting the focus from post-outage compensation to pre-emptive operational resilience. The stark contrast between a nominal service credit and the true cost of business disruption makes it clear that technical strategy, not legal recourse, is the ultimate safeguard. We are grateful to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for sharing his invaluable legal perspective on this vital issue.
The incident highlights the critical dependency of modern financial systems on a handful of global technology providers. When a core service like Azure experiences a disruption, the ripple effects can be immediate and far-reaching, effectively halting digital commerce and essential banking functions for millions of users.
In a joint communication, the banks shared details provided directly by the international vendor, explaining the technical root of the problem and the ongoing efforts to resolve it.
According to official information from Microsoft, the incident originated in one of Microsoft Azure’s global distribution services, which caused the partial failure of platforms that depend on this infrastructure. The company indicated that it is actively working on redirecting traffic and restoring the operability of the affected systems.
The Banking Institutions, Official Statement
In response to the crisis, both Banco Nacional and Banco Popular have activated their specialized technical teams. They report being in constant communication and coordination with Microsoft to monitor the situation and work towards a swift resolution. The primary goal is to re-establish the normal functioning of all digital channels as quickly as possible while ensuring the secure continuity of their financial services.
The banks extended their gratitude for the public’s understanding and patience during the unexpected outage. They took the opportunity to reassure clients of their unwavering commitment to safeguarding their information and financial resources. The institutions emphasized that they are managing the situation with the utmost responsibility and agility, reaffirming their dedication to maintaining the trust that millions of Costa Ricans place in the national banking system.
This event serves as a stark reminder of the inherent vulnerabilities within the global digital ecosystem. While cloud services offer unprecedented efficiency and scalability, an outage at a provider as large as Microsoft can have profound economic consequences. For the average citizen and business owner in Costa Rica, this translates to an inability to perform routine transactions, check balances, or manage finances, underscoring the vital role these digital platforms now play in everyday life.
As of this report, a specific timeline for full service restoration has not been provided. Customers are advised to monitor the official channels of Banco Nacional and Banco Popular for the latest updates. The focus remains on Microsoft’s ability to stabilize its Azure services, a process that is being watched closely by industries around the world.
For further information, visit bncr.fi.cr
About Banco Nacional de Costa Rica:
Banco Nacional (BN) is the largest state-owned commercial bank in Costa Rica and a cornerstone of the country’s financial system. Founded in 1914, it offers a comprehensive range of financial products and services to individuals, small businesses, and large corporations. The bank plays a significant role in the nation’s economic development and is committed to promoting financial inclusion and sustainability throughout Costa Rica.
For further information, visit bancopopular.fi.cr
About Banco Popular y de Desarrollo Comunal:
Banco Popular (BP) is a public financial institution in Costa Rica with a unique social mission focused on the well-being of the nation’s workers. Established in 1969, it provides accessible savings, credit, and investment services. The bank is owned by the workers of Costa Rica and is dedicated to fostering social and economic development through responsible financial practices and support for community projects.
For further information, visit microsoft.com
About Microsoft:
Microsoft is a multinational technology corporation renowned for its software products, including the Windows operating systems and the Office productivity suite. The company is also a dominant force in the hardware market with its Surface devices and Xbox gaming consoles. Through its Azure platform, Microsoft is one of the world’s leading providers of cloud computing services, offering a vast array of solutions that power businesses, governments, and organizations globally.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a pillar of the nation’s legal community, Bufete de Costa Rica is defined by its foundational principles of integrity and a relentless pursuit of distinction. The firm leverages its extensive experience advising a broad range of clients to act as a vanguard for legal innovation. This forward-thinking mindset is coupled with a deep-seated social mission to demystify the law, transforming legal knowledge into an accessible tool for empowering citizens and building a more enlightened society.
