Internet users experienced significant disruptions this morning as Cloudflare, a key internet service provider, faced a major outage. Reports began surfacing around 09:19, with many users unable to access popular websites, including LinkedIn. Cloudflare is a crucial player in the online infrastructure, providing services that enhance the speed and security of websites and applications. The company operates a global network designed to protect against cyber threats, claiming to block billions of attacks daily. It generates over $500 million (£440 million) in revenue each quarter, serving nearly 300,000 customers across 125 countries, including China. The outage has drawn attention to Cloudflare's role in the internet ecosystem. As an invisible backbone for many websites, it often goes unnoticed until issues arise. This morning's incident follows a similar disruption a few weeks ago, when users encountered error messages from Cloudflare while trying to access various sites. Cloudflare describes itself as one of the world’s largest networks, supporting millions of internet properties. Its services are designed to ensure that websites remain operational, even during high traffic or cyber-attacks. However, when Cloudflare experiences problems, it can lead to widespread outages across numerous sites that rely on its infrastructure. The company’s technology acts as a buffer between users and websites, helping to manage requests and prevent servers from becoming overwhelmed. This means that when Cloudflare's systems fail, the impact can be felt across a wide range of seemingly unrelated websites. As the situation develops, users are encouraged to stay updated through live blogs and news sources. Cloudflare has yet to provide a detailed explanation for the outage, but the incident highlights the critical role of internet infrastructure providers in maintaining online accessibility.