Sharing and Collaboration with Dashboards in DataDog - Tutorial

Welcome to this tutorial on sharing and collaboration with dashboards in DataDog. DataDog is a powerful monitoring and analytics platform that allows you to create insightful dashboards to monitor your applications and infrastructure. In this tutorial, we will explore the various methods of sharing and collaborating on dashboards in DataDog.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, make sure you have the following:

An active DataDog account
At least one dashboard created in DataDog

Step 1: Sharing Dashboards

DataDog provides multiple options to share dashboards with others. Here's how you can share a dashboard:

Login to your DataDog account and navigate to the dashboard you want to share.
Click on the "Share" button on the top-right corner of the dashboard.
Choose the sharing method that suits your needs. You can share via a link, embed the dashboard, or share it with specific DataDog users or teams.
Configure the sharing settings, such as read-only or read-write access.
Copy the generated link or embed code and share it with the intended recipients.

For example, here's how you can share a dashboard using the DataDog API:


    POST /api/v1/dashboard//share

    Content-Type: application/json

    {"access_type": "read", "recipients": ["user1@example.com", "user2@example.com"]}

Step 2: Collaborating on Dashboards

DataDog enables seamless collaboration on dashboards, allowing multiple users to work together. Follow these steps to collaborate on a dashboard:

Select the dashboard you want to collaborate on.
Click on the "Invite" button on the top-right corner of the dashboard.
Enter the email addresses of the users you want to invite.
Specify their access level (read-only or read-write) and click "Send Invites".
The invited users will receive an email notification with access to the dashboard. They can then make changes and collaborate with you in real-time.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Sharing the dashboard with inappropriate access permissions, potentially exposing sensitive information.
Forgetting to revoke access or remove users who no longer require access to the dashboard.
Not clearly communicating the purpose and context of the shared dashboard, leading to misunderstandings.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Can I restrict access to certain parts of a shared dashboard?

A1: Yes, DataDog allows you to set granular permissions for different widgets and sections within a dashboard, enabling fine-grained access control.

Q2: Can I collaborate with users outside of my DataDog organization?

A2: Yes, you can invite external users by providing their email addresses when inviting them to collaborate on a dashboard.

Q3: How can I track changes made by collaborators on a shared dashboard?

A3: DataDog provides an audit log feature that records all changes made to a shared dashboard, including who made the changes and when.

Q4: Can I export a shared dashboard to a different format, such as PDF or PNG?

A4: Currently, DataDog does not have a built-in feature to export shared dashboards to different formats. However, you can use third-party tools or browser extensions to capture and save the dashboard as an image or PDF.

Q5: Can I revoke access to a shared dashboard at any time?

A5: Yes, as the owner or administrator of a shared dashboard, you have the ability to revoke access from specific users or completely disable sharing for the dashboard.

Summary

In this tutorial, you learned how to effectively share and collaborate on dashboards in DataDog. We covered the steps to share a dashboard using different methods, such as generating links or using the DataDog API. Additionally, we explored the process of collaborating on dashboards by inviting users and specifying their access levels. By avoiding common mistakes and leveraging the sharing and collaboration features in DataDog, you can enhance teamwork, streamline communication, and gain valuable insights from shared dashboards.