What caused the sudden 30% increase in failed login attempts for Beyond Identity's Secure Work product over the past week?

Introduction

The sudden 30% increase in failed login attempts for Beyond Identity's Secure Work product over the past week is a critical issue that demands immediate attention. This analysis will systematically identify, validate, and address the root cause while considering both short-term fixes and long-term implications for the product.

I'll approach this problem by first clarifying key details, ruling out external factors, and then diving deep into the product's user journey and metrics. From there, I'll form data-driven hypotheses, conduct root cause analysis, and propose a comprehensive resolution plan.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Looking at the timing, I'm thinking this could be related to a recent product update. Has there been any significant change to the login process or security protocols in the past two weeks?

Why it matters: Recent changes often correlate with sudden metric shifts. Expected answer: Yes, a minor security update was implemented. Impact on approach: If confirmed, I'd focus on the update's specifics and potential unintended consequences.

• Considering user segments, I'm curious about the distribution of these failed attempts. Are we seeing this increase across all user types, or is it concentrated in specific segments?

Why it matters: Helps narrow down if it's a universal issue or specific to certain users. Expected answer: The increase is primarily seen in enterprise accounts. Impact on approach: I'd investigate enterprise-specific factors and recent changes affecting this segment.

• Given the nature of Secure Work, I'm wondering about any changes in the threat landscape. Have we detected any unusual patterns in attack vectors or increased bot activity recently?

Why it matters: External security threats could explain the sudden increase. Expected answer: No significant changes in threat patterns detected. Impact on approach: If confirmed, I'd shift focus to internal factors and user behavior.

• Thinking about system performance, has there been any degradation in response times or availability of authentication servers in the past week?

Why it matters: Technical issues could lead to legitimate attempts being misclassified as failures. Expected answer: Some intermittent slowdowns were reported. Impact on approach: I'd investigate the correlation between slowdowns and failed attempts, possibly involving the infrastructure team.