What factors are contributing to the sudden 30% increase in API errors for Definitive Healthcare's Hospital & IDN Database in the last week?

Introduction

The sudden 30% increase in API errors for Definitive Healthcare's Hospital & IDN Database 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 our product ecosystem.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Looking at the timing, I'm thinking this could be related to a recent deployment. Have there been any significant changes or updates to the API or related systems in the past two weeks?

Why it matters: Recent changes often correlate with sudden performance shifts. Expected answer: Yes, there was a minor update to the database schema. Impact on approach: If confirmed, we'd focus on the update's impact on API calls.

• Considering the scale of the increase, I'm wondering about data volume changes. Has there been any unusual spike in API usage or new high-volume clients onboarded recently?

Why it matters: Unexpected load can strain systems and cause errors. Expected answer: No significant changes in overall usage patterns. Impact on approach: If true, we'd shift focus to internal system issues rather than capacity problems.

• Given the specificity to the Hospital & IDN Database, I'm curious about data integrity. Have we received any reports of data inconsistencies or quality issues from clients using this particular database?

Why it matters: Data quality problems could manifest as API errors. Expected answer: A few isolated reports of minor discrepancies. Impact on approach: This would prompt a deeper dive into data validation processes.

• Thinking about system dependencies, I'm wondering about any changes in our infrastructure. Have there been any updates to our cloud services, load balancers, or other critical infrastructure components?

Why it matters: Infrastructure changes can have cascading effects on API performance. Expected answer: Routine maintenance was performed on some servers. Impact on approach: We'd investigate the maintenance process and its potential impact on the API.