Analytics in an AWS environment
Amazon Quick Sight is used to create interactive dashboards, scheduled reports, and analytics embedded in applications. It is a managed service, so the team using the solution focuses on data sources, the data model, metrics, permissions, and reports instead of maintaining the BI platform’s infrastructure.
The solution is worth considering when data and applications already run in AWS, a report needs to be embedded in a portal, or the organization needs to provide analytics to a large audience. The decision needs to account for the end-to-end data architecture, security requirements, and maintenance model—not only dashboard features.
Key elements of the solution
Dashboards and reports
Authors create visualizations and combine them into dashboards shared with recipients. The project scope needs to cover metric definitions, filtering, refresh frequency, and tests that compare the result with the source data.
Data sources and SPICE
Quick Sight connects to data from AWS services and other supported sources. The SPICE engine stores prepared data sets for analysis, reducing the load on source systems and affecting how refreshes are planned. The architecture depends on data volume, the required update time, and how reports are used.
Embedded analytics
Dashboards and selected analytics capabilities can be embedded in an application or portal. This scenario requires the design of authentication, permissions, data scope, and the user experience within the application.
Access and maintenance
Before launch, the organization needs to define user roles, publication rules, data set owners, and accountability for refresh errors. Usage monitoring and control of costs arising from the chosen operating model are also important.
Questions to answer before selecting Amazon Quick Sight
- Do most data and applications already run in AWS?
- Will the report be used directly in the tool or embedded in a product or portal?
- How frequently does the data need to be updated, and who is accountable for source quality?
- How many authors create analyses, and how many recipients only use completed views?
- Which access rules apply to companies, departments, clients, or application users?
- Who takes responsibility for maintaining data sets, dashboards, and integrations after launch?
Frequently asked questions about Amazon Quick Sight
What is the difference between Amazon Quick Sight and Amazon QuickSight?
Amazon develops the capabilities previously known as Amazon QuickSight within the broader Amazon Quick Suite and uses the Quick Sight spelling for its analytics area. The former QuickSight name still appears in URLs, materials, and user queries.
Does Quick Sight work only with data in AWS?
No. It can use AWS services and other supported databases and sources. The connection method needs to be assessed for security, performance, cost, and refresh frequency.
What is SPICE used for?
SPICE stores prepared data used in analyses. This means some queries do not directly load the source system, but the project still requires capacity and refresh planning.
Can a Quick Sight dashboard be embedded in an application?
Yes. Embedded analytics requires the design of authentication, permissions, data filtering, and how the report is presented to the application’s user.