Default vs custom metrics in AWS - When to Use Which

The Big Idea

What if you could see exactly what's happening inside your system without digging through endless data?

The Scenario

Imagine you run a small online store and want to check how many visitors come each day. You look at some basic numbers provided by your website host, but they don't show details like how long visitors stay or which products they look at most.

The Problem

Relying only on basic numbers means you miss important details. Manually collecting extra data is slow and confusing. You might forget to track something important or make mistakes adding up numbers, leading to wrong decisions.

The Solution

Using default and custom metrics lets you automatically gather both basic and detailed information. Default metrics give you quick, ready-made insights, while custom metrics let you track exactly what matters to your business, all without extra manual work.

Before vs After

✗ Before

Check visitor count once a day from basic report

✓ After

Use default metrics for visitor count and custom metrics for product views in real time

What It Enables

You can watch your system's health and business details closely, making smart choices fast and easily.

Real Life Example

A company uses default metrics to monitor server uptime and custom metrics to track how many users complete purchases, helping them fix problems quickly and boost sales.

Key Takeaways

Default metrics provide quick, general insights automatically.

Custom metrics let you track specific details important to your goals.

Combining both saves time and improves decision-making.