The CloudWatch Evidently Phase-Out: A Turning Point for AWS Users?

The CloudWatch Evidently Phase-Out: A Turning Point for AWS Users?

AWS Discontinues CloudWatch Evidently

With the recent announcement of AWS discontinuing CloudWatch Evidently, many AWS users are left wondering: Is this the end of an era, or simply a transition to a more streamlined toolset? Effective October 17, 2025, AWS will pull support for CloudWatch Evidently, leaving users with just a year to complete ongoing feature launches and shift their operations elsewhere. In AWS's recommendation, the replacement solution lies in AWS Systems Manager's AppConfig. The critical question, though, is whether this is truly an upgrade or a potential roadblock for current Evidently users.

A Move Towards Simplification

From an outsider's perspective, this move appears to be a calculated simplification of AWS's sprawling feature set. AppConfig has been around for a while and serves as a comprehensive configuration management solution. By folding Evidently’s functionality into AppConfig, AWS aims to consolidate its tools, effectively reducing overlap. However, for users currently reliant on CloudWatch Evidently, this shift can feel like a mixed bag. While AppConfig is capable of replicating many of Evidently's features, and even extending them when used in conjunction with a data warehouse, the transition will require changes in workflows, training, and possibly some reengineering of systems already in place. For some AWS customers, the move might come with the inevitable pain of adaptation—a classic "one-step-back" feeling before seeing any possible benefits.

The Trade-Off: Complexity vs. Capability

For AWS users who are accustomed to Evidently's focus on experimentation and quick feature flag rollouts, the shift to AppConfig might seem more like a sidestep rather than a full upgrade. In particular, Evidently provided straightforward client-side evaluations that are now being rethought with AppConfig's feature flag capabilities. The added complexity of AppConfig's Segments and integration with data lakes may be powerful, but it also introduces a higher bar for learning and implementation. This makes the move seem more suited for organizations already leaning towards mature DevOps practices and heavy data integration.

Challenges and Opportunities Ahead

Moving forward, the biggest net effect of this transition will be felt by users depending on Evidently’s more niche capabilities that AppConfig does not yet replicate out of the box. It's not necessarily a "show stopper" in the long run, but it will be a stumbling block for those who value Evidently's simplicity. For these customers, the challenge will be to adopt the more complex AppConfig capabilities and decide whether its additional features actually align with their needs. For some, the transition might ultimately represent a slight downgrade—trading simplicity for breadth. However, there is also an opportunity here: AWS appears to be nudging users towards a more integrated and sophisticated approach to feature flagging and experimentation that, while daunting initially, could lead to more robust feature management down the road.

Consolidation as a Broader Trend

Overall, this shift emphasizes AWS's larger trend of consolidating tools to avoid overlapping functionality. For companies navigating this transition, the key will be to carefully weigh the benefits of AppConfig's enhanced capabilities against the learning curve it imposes. With the right preparation, the disruption could ultimately be turned into an advantage, fostering a more streamlined, unified approach to configuration and experimentation. 🙂🌐

Source:  Amazon - Support for Amazon CloudWatch Evidently ending soon

Image:  Amazon