What factors are causing the sudden increase in transaction failures on IOHK's Atala PRISM identity solution?

Introduction

The sudden increase in transaction failures on IOHK's Atala PRISM identity solution is a critical issue that demands immediate attention. As we analyze this product problem, we'll follow a systematic framework to identify, validate, and address the root cause while considering both immediate and long-term implications. Our approach will involve a thorough examination of the issue, generation of data-driven hypotheses, and development of a comprehensive solution strategy.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Given the sudden nature of the increase, I'm thinking there might have been a recent system change. Has there been any significant update or deployment to the Atala PRISM system in the past week?

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

• Considering the complexity of identity solutions, I'm wondering about the specific types of transactions failing. Are we seeing failures across all transaction types, or is it concentrated in particular areas like credential issuance or verification?

Why it matters: Helps narrow down the problem scope and potential causes. Expected answer: Failures are primarily in credential verification transactions. Impact on approach: We'd focus our investigation on the verification process and related components.

• Looking at user segments, I'm curious if this is affecting all users equally. Have we noticed any patterns in terms of user demographics, geographic locations, or specific identity providers experiencing more failures?

Why it matters: Identifies potential external factors or specific user-related issues. Expected answer: Higher failure rates observed in users from certain regions or using specific identity providers. Impact on approach: We'd investigate regional infrastructure or provider-specific integration issues.

• Considering the critical nature of identity transactions, I'm thinking about the failure rate magnitude. What's the current failure rate compared to our historical baseline?

Why it matters: Helps quantify the severity of the issue and set priorities. Expected answer: Failure rate has increased from 0.1% to 2% in the last 48 hours. Impact on approach: We'd treat this as a high-priority issue requiring immediate action.