What caused the sudden spike in data validation errors for Validity's BriteVerify service last week?

Introduction

The sudden spike in data validation errors for Validity's BriteVerify service last week presents 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 the service.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Looking at the timing, I'm thinking there might be a correlation with recent system updates. Have there been any significant changes to the BriteVerify infrastructure or codebase in the past two weeks?

Why it matters: Recent changes often trigger unexpected issues. Expected answer: Yes, there was a minor update to the email validation algorithm. Impact on approach: If confirmed, we'd focus on the update's impact and potential rollback.

• Considering the nature of the service, I'm wondering about data input quality. Has there been any change in the sources or volume of email addresses being processed?

Why it matters: Input quality directly affects validation accuracy. Expected answer: No significant changes in sources, but volume increased by 20%. Impact on approach: We'd investigate scalability issues and potential bottlenecks.

• Given the specificity of "data validation errors," I'm curious about the error types. Are we seeing a particular category of errors (e.g., syntax, domain, disposable email) occurring more frequently?

Why it matters: Different error types point to different root causes. Expected answer: Increase in domain-related errors specifically. Impact on approach: We'd focus on domain verification processes and external dependencies.

• Thinking about external factors, have there been any changes in email service provider policies or major ISP behaviors recently?

Why it matters: External changes can significantly impact email validation accuracy. Expected answer: No known major changes, but some providers updated DMARC policies. Impact on approach: We'd investigate how these policy changes might affect our validation process.