Peak-day architecture
Queue users fairly, shard databases by region, and pre-generate static assets. Load tests should mimic mobile networks, not just data-center LANs.
Identity and fraud
Layer document checks, device fingerprinting, and step-up challenges without locking out rural applicants. Offer offline support workflows.
Trust through communication
Status blogs, SMS fallbacks, and multilingual help centers reduce panic. Post-mortems should be public when outages affect life milestones.
