Why has Smarsh's Enterprise Archive seen a 15% drop in data ingestion rates over the past month?

Introduction

Smarsh's Enterprise Archive, a critical data management solution, has experienced a concerning 15% drop in data ingestion rates over the past month. This decline directly impacts the product's core functionality and could have significant implications for customer satisfaction and regulatory compliance. I'll approach this issue systematically, focusing on identifying the root cause, validating hypotheses, and developing both immediate and long-term solutions.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Looking at the timing, I'm thinking this could be related to recent system changes. Have there been any updates to the ingestion pipeline or related systems in the past 1-2 months?

Why it matters: System changes often have unintended consequences on performance. Expected answer: Yes, there was a recent update to the ingestion pipeline. Impact on approach: If confirmed, we'd focus on rollback options and code review.

• Considering user behavior, I'm curious about any changes in data sources or types. Has there been a shift in the types of data being ingested or the sources it's coming from?

Why it matters: Changes in data composition could affect ingestion rates. Expected answer: No significant changes in data types or sources. Impact on approach: If unchanged, we'd look more closely at internal system issues.

• Given the specific 15% drop, I'm wondering about the consistency of this decline. Has the 15% drop been steady throughout the month, or did it occur suddenly?

Why it matters: The pattern of decline can indicate whether it's a gradual issue or a sudden event. Expected answer: The drop occurred suddenly about three weeks ago. Impact on approach: A sudden drop would suggest a specific triggering event to investigate.

• Thinking about potential external factors, have there been any changes in regulatory requirements or industry standards that might have affected our customers' data retention practices?

Why it matters: External factors could influence how customers use the product. Expected answer: No significant regulatory changes in the past month. Impact on approach: If confirmed, we'd focus more on internal factors and user behavior.