Monitoring AWS DynamoDB with Applications Manager: What to track and why it matters

AWS DynamoDB is a powerful NoSQL database that supports high-speed, scalable application development. Its fully managed nature means teams don’t have to worry about infrastructure tasks like replication, availability, or backups. However, like any managed service, it still requires active monitoring, especially when performance issues affect downstream applications.

Even occasional spikes in latency or throttled requests can cause slowdowns or failures in services that rely on DynamoDB. In such cases, visibility becomes key—and that’s where ManageEngine Applications Manager can be a lifesaver.

With Applications Manager's AWS DynamoDB monitor, you will be able to understand performance trends, locate slow queries, and fix broken pipelines in real time. Here's how it can help:

Real-time insights into throughput and capacity

At the core of DynamoDB monitoring is a clear understanding of read and write throughput. Applications Manager offers real-time tracking of consumed Read Capacity Units (RCUs) and Write Capacity Units (WCUs), helping you monitor how closely your workload approaches the provisioned limits.

With this data, you can identify when a table is being throttled, detect sudden traffic surges, or spot uneven usage across tables or indexes. This helps you decide when to adjust provisioning, enable auto-scaling, or review table design—before it affects users.

Tracking latency to prevent slowdowns

Latency in DynamoDB might not be obvious at first, but even small delays can build up across the application. Applications Manager captures average read, write, and query latency for each table, giving you a clearer picture of potential slowdowns.

If a table starts showing higher-than-normal latency, you can investigate causes like overloaded partitions or sudden spikes in write volume. These metrics help teams correlate user-facing performance issues with what’s happening behind the scenes in the database.

Understanding throttling and request failures

Throttling happens when request rates exceed what DynamoDB allows for a given table or index. When left unchecked, these rejections can ripple through your app, especially in data-heavy operations.

Applications Manager monitors throttled read/write request counts, tracks error codes, and identifies when these issues are most frequent. This enables you to respond quickly—either by shifting to on-demand capacity mode, refining your partition key strategy, or adjusting workloads during peak periods.

Table-level and index monitoring

Indexes, especially Global Secondary Indexes (GSIs), are useful for querying data efficiently—but they can also become bottlenecks. Applications Manager tracks GSI performance and usage, making it easier to detect when an index is becoming a hotspot.

You can also monitor table growth, item count trends, and how much storage is being used by indexes and backups. These insights are helpful for capacity planning and cost control, particularly in large-scale environments.

Alerts that help you stay ahead

Rather than relying only on dashboards, Applications Manager lets you configure alerts for key performance indicators. You can set thresholds for throttling rates, latency, capacity usage, and more—so if something crosses the line, you’re notified right away.

These alerts integrate with your preferred tools—like email, SMS, Slack, or ServiceDesk Plus or ServiceNow—making it easier to act quickly and reduce downtime.

Visibility across your AWS ecosystem

DynamoDB monitoring becomes even more effective when it’s part of a larger view. Applications Manager doesn’t just monitor DynamoDB in isolation—it gives you insight across your entire AWS stack, including EC2, Lambda, RDS, and S3.

This consolidated view helps you connect the dots. A spike in DynamoDB latency may tie back to a heavy batch process in Lambda or an overloaded EC2 instance. With Applications Manager, you can troubleshoot the full chain without jumping between tools.

Summing up

Monitoring DynamoDB isn’t just about keeping track of metrics. It’s about ensuring your data layer performs reliably, especially as workloads grow and architectures evolve. Applications Manager provides the visibility, context, and alerting needed to manage DynamoDB effectively—alongside the rest of your IT infrastructure.

Want to explore it by yourself? Try the 30-day, free trial or schedule a demo with our team.