Overview
Connect Sazabi to query your existing observability platforms directly without moving data.
External backends let Sazabi query your existing observability platforms directly. Instead of sending data to Sazabi, you connect your platform and Sazabi fetches logs on demand when Chat needs them.
How external backends work
When you configure an external backend:
- Authenticate: Connect your observability platform using API keys or OAuth
- Query on demand: When Chat needs logs, Sazabi queries your platform directly
- Unified interface: Ask questions in natural language, regardless of where data lives
Your data never leaves your existing platform. Sazabi acts as a unified query layer that translates natural language questions into the appropriate query format for each backend.
Available external backends
Datadog
Query Datadog logs, metrics, and traces directly from Chat.
AWS CloudWatch
Query CloudWatch Logs and Insights without exporting data.
Google Cloud Logging
Query Cloud Logging directly from Sazabi.
Better Stack
Query Better Stack (formerly Logtail) logs and uptime data.
Axiom
Query Axiom datasets directly from Chat.
Sentry
Query Sentry issues, events, and breadcrumbs.
PostHog
Query PostHog events and session recordings.
Mezmo
Query Mezmo (formerly LogDNA) logs directly.
When to use external backends
External backends are ideal when:
- Compliance requirements: Data residency rules prevent copying data to another platform
- Existing investments: You have significant infrastructure and workflows built around your current platform
- Historical data: You have years of logs you do not want to migrate
- Cost management: Avoiding data duplication reduces storage costs
External backends vs data sources
| Aspect | External Backend | Data Source |
|---|---|---|
| Data location | Stays in your platform | Copied to Sazabi |
| Query speed | Depends on platform | Optimized for Sazabi |
| Retention | Your platform's retention | Sazabi's retention |
| Cost | Platform query costs | Sazabi storage costs |
You can use both approaches together. For example, send real-time logs to Sazabi for fast analysis while querying historical data from an external backend.
Authentication
Each external backend requires authentication with your observability platform. Sazabi stores credentials securely and uses them only to query data on your behalf.
Common authentication methods:
- API keys: Read-only keys for platforms like Datadog and Axiom
- OAuth: Secure token-based auth for platforms that support it
- IAM roles: AWS-native authentication for CloudWatch
Configure backends in Settings > Backends in the Sazabi dashboard.