CrowdStrike’s President, Michael Sentonas, took the stage at the Pwnie Awards during Def Con to accept the dubious honour of ‘Most Epic Fail,’ just weeks after the company’s software update triggered a global IT meltdown. 

The award was presented in a light-hearted yet pointed moment, where Sentonas candidly acknowledged the company’s misstep.

During the ceremony, which followed the Black Hat conference where CrowdStrike had a significant presence, Sentonas admitted that this was “definitely not the award to be proud of receiving.” 

However, he noted the importance of owning up to mistakes as part of the company’s commitment to protecting its users.

Footage of the speech was shared online, showing an audience that appeared both supportive and understanding, despite the severity of the IT issue.

Sentonas pledged to take the trophy back to CrowdStrike’s headquarters as a reminder that such failures cannot be repeated.

The Pwnie Awards, known for their tongue-in-cheek recognition of cybersecurity blunders, concluded with a large trophy being handed to Sentonas, underscoring the gravity of the company’s recent challenges.