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AWS CloudWatch Real-Time User Monitoring (RUM) captures, visualizes, and analyzes client-side performance data from browsers and mobile devices. By instrumenting your web or mobile application with RUM, you can detect issues as they happen, optimize user experience, and make data-driven decisions.

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Why Use Real-Time User Monitoring?

Modern applications must deliver fast, reliable experiences across a variety of devices and network conditions. With AWS CloudWatch RUM, you can:
  • Understand actual user experience in real time
  • Detect performance regressions and errors immediately
  • Correlate frontend telemetry with backend metrics and logs

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Use Case Example

Imagine your customers browse your e-commerce site from desktops, tablets, and smartphones. A sudden spike in page load times on mobile may signal a CDN misconfiguration or a heavy third-party script. RUM lets you spot these anomalies in minutes and take corrective action.

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Getting Started with AWS CloudWatch RUM

  1. Create a RUM app monitor in the Amazon CloudWatch console
  2. Add the provided JavaScript snippet to your website or mobile SDK to begin collecting data
  3. View client-side metrics and user sessions in the CloudWatch RUM dashboard
Before deploying to production, verify user consent and compliance with data-privacy regulations when collecting client-side telemetry.

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Key Features

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Retention and Long-Term Storage

  • 30-Day Default: RUM data is stored in CloudWatch Metrics for 30 days.
  • Export Options: Send RUM data to CloudWatch Logs or S3 for extended retention.
  • Lifecycle Policies: Configure S3 lifecycle rules to archive or delete old data.
Exporting large volumes of RUM data to S3 can incur storage costs. Review your retention policies to control expenses.

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Real-Time Monitoring & Analytics

  • Instant Detection: Dashboards refresh in seconds, so you can spot issues as they emerge.
  • User Session Replay: Inspect individual sessions to understand the exact user journey.
  • Data-Driven Improvements: Use RUM insights to prioritize frontend optimizations and feature rollouts.
The image is an infographic about Real-Time User Monitoring (RUM), detailing features like performance data visualization, retention and export options, and web application monitoring.

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Conclusion

AWS CloudWatch RUM empowers development and operations teams with end-to-end visibility into client-side performance. From detailed visualizations and real-time alerts to long-term data retention and export capabilities, RUM helps you maintain a smooth, responsive experience for your users.

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