On Monday, Amazon Web Services (AWS) experienced a significant service disruption that rippled across the internet, temporarily disabling dozens of major websites and online platforms that depend on its vast cloud infrastructure. Among the affected services was Ring, the well-known smart home security company, which suddenly found many of its users unable to access or control their devices.
In a detailed conversation with Business Insider, Ring’s founder, Jamie Siminoff, offered candid reflections on the disruption and the challenges it brought to both customers and his team. Siminoff did not conceal his concern as he described the impact of the outage, calling it, in his words, “a tough day.” He emphasized that such moments are particularly painful because Ring strives to earn and maintain the trust of its users—a community the company affectionately refers to not as customers but as “neighbors.” This terminology reflects the company’s founding philosophy of promoting a culture of shared security and collective responsibility.
Siminoff went on to explain the personal approach he takes toward supporting Ring’s community. He noted that he makes himself remarkably accessible, embedding his personal email address on every product box Ring sends out. This openness, he said, ensures that customers know he stands behind the product they have installed in their homes. “I’m very out there,” Siminoff added, reiterating that his visibility and accessibility are meant to humanize the company and reinforce a sense of accountability during times of technical distress.
The frustration surrounding the AWS outage was particularly acute because Ring is not simply a novelty device—it functions as a comprehensive home security system. Users depend on Ring’s cameras, alarms, and sensors to safeguard their property and personal safety, which magnified the collective concern when systems unexpectedly went offline. On social media, particularly on X, formerly known as Twitter, users voiced their alarm and unease. One individual likened the experience to “the beginning of a modern scary movie,” while another commented with anxious humor, expressing hope that no one was being robbed amid the downtime.
Ring’s current trajectory, and its connection to Amazon, further adds depth to the situation. The e-commerce giant acquired Ring in 2018 for more than one billion dollars, integrating it into a growing suite of smart-home products. Siminoff, after temporarily stepping away from leadership, returned to Amazon in April 2025 with the title of Vice President of Product. In this capacity, he oversees a range of interconnected home security and convenience products, including Ring itself, Amazon’s Blink security cameras, the Key in-home delivery system, and the Sidewalk wireless network—a mesh technology designed to enhance connectivity among Amazon devices. His reappointment signaled Amazon’s continued confidence in his vision for home safety technology and connected living.
Amazon Web Services, another division of the same corporate structure, powers an enormous percentage of the modern internet by providing cloud computing and hosting services. Siminoff was acutely aware of this layered relationship, pointing out that the same corporation that owns Ring was now facing criticism for the infrastructure failure that had temporarily immobilized Ring’s systems. Acknowledging Amazon’s typically reliable record, Siminoff remarked with characteristic frankness: “If you look at the history of AWS, I’d say it’s pretty stellar. But I guess things happen—just as the bumper sticker says.” His blunt but good-natured comment illustrated both his respect for AWS’s history of performance and his pragmatic acceptance of unforeseen technical mishaps.
The outage demonstrated how interdependent modern digital ecosystems have become. Within Amazon’s expansive operations, various services were hampered: some customers were unable to complete purchases on Amazon’s storefront, while others woke to unprompted Alexa alarms triggered by irregularities in cloud communication. Third-party companies that rely on AWS were also caught in the crossfire. Users reported being unable to place mobile orders at Starbucks, access their financial portfolios via Robinhood, or even continue their daily Wordle streaks—mundane but emblematic examples of how deeply AWS’s infrastructure is embedded in everyday routines.
AWS engineers later identified the root cause of the failure as a Domain Name System (DNS) configuration issue originating from the company’s Northern Virginia data center. Once identified, the problem was resolved, and all AWS-linked services—including Ring’s systems—gradually returned to full operational status. The incident reinforced the remarkable dependence that both corporations and consumers have developed on cloud providers, as well as the resilience measures necessary to minimize service interruptions in the future.
Since returning to Amazon, Siminoff has endeavored to refocus Ring on its foundational purpose: empowering households to prevent and report crimes through networked vigilance. Ironically, it was this renewed emphasis on proactive home defense that deepened customer anxiety during the outage, with many reporting online that they could not disarm their alarms, view live camera feeds, or receive motion detection alerts. Despite the temporary paralysis, Siminoff expressed confidence that the teams at both Ring and AWS acted swiftly to restore systems and support affected users.
Reflecting on the day, Siminoff said optimistically, “We got through it.” He was simultaneously promoting his forthcoming book, appropriately titled “Ding Dong,” a nod to both Ring’s core product and his personal journey as an entrepreneur navigating the volatile landscape of technology and innovation. “I would like to think we did the best for our customers that we can through that,” he said, extending appreciation not just to the Ring division but to Amazon as a whole for their joint response efforts. Concluding with characteristic resilience, Siminoff remarked simply, “I’ve just got to keep trucking along”—a statement that encapsulates both the endurance required in modern tech industries and his ongoing commitment to serving his ‘neighbors’ with reliability, empathy, and resolve.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/ring-founder-aws-outage-2025-10
