What caused the sudden spike in error rates for Atomic's Direct Deposit API last week?

Introduction

The sudden spike in error rates for Atomic's Direct Deposit API last week is a critical issue that demands immediate attention and thorough analysis. As we delve into this problem, we'll employ a systematic approach to 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 Direct Deposit API in the past week?

Why it matters: Recent changes often correlate with performance issues. Expected answer: Yes, there was a minor update to improve processing speed. Impact on approach: If confirmed, we'd focus on the recent changes and their potential side effects.

• Considering the nature of direct deposits, I'm wondering about transaction volumes. Has there been any unusual spike in the number of transactions processed by the API recently?

Why it matters: Unusual load could explain performance degradation. Expected answer: Transaction volumes have been within normal ranges. Impact on approach: If volumes are normal, we'd shift focus to internal system issues rather than capacity problems.

• Given the critical nature of financial transactions, I'm curious about our monitoring systems. Have there been any changes or issues with our error tracking or alerting mechanisms?

Why it matters: Ensures we're working with accurate data and haven't missed earlier warning signs. Expected answer: No changes to monitoring systems have been reported. Impact on approach: If confirmed, we can trust our error rate data and focus on the API itself.

• Thinking about potential external factors, I'm wondering if there have been any changes in how our partner banks or financial institutions interact with our API?

Why it matters: External changes could impact our API's performance. Expected answer: No significant changes reported from partner institutions. Impact on approach: If true, we'd focus more on internal factors rather than external integrations.