The Crowdstrike issue is causing the Azure issue as I understand, lots of machines using that software that all updated to the blue screen feature around 6 PM apparently.

Nope. Azure does not run CrowdStrike. It doesn't even run Windows as you know it.

ah you are right, I misread the Microsoft notification

Also Microsoft using Crowd strike instead of their own defender for endpoint?

Guess it could be part of a risk mitigation strategy to not but all their eggs in that product.