A system outage refers to a period when a computer system, network, or service is unavailable or not functioning properly. This can occur due to various reasons, such as hardware failures, software bugs, or external factors like power outages. During an outage, users may experience disruptions in accessing services or data. Organizations often have protocols in place to address system outages, including backup systems and recovery plans. Timely communication is essential to inform users about the issue and expected resolution time. Companies like Amazon and Google regularly monitor their systems to minimize the impact of outages on their services.