Use external monitors from multiple regions to measure real user availability. Set up alerts for downtime and degradation and define escalation. A status page builds trust and reduces support load during incidents.
External monitoring
- Multiple regions: Run checks from several locations to mimic real users and detect regional issues.
- HTTP(S), TCP, DNS: Check that the service responds; set timeouts and expected status codes.
- Frequency: Balance check interval with cost and alert speed (e.g. 1–5 minutes).
Alerting and escalation
- Alert on failure and optionally on slow response or SSL expiry.
- Escalation: Define who is notified first and what happens if no one responds.
- Integrations: Send alerts to Slack, PagerDuty, email, or SMS so the right people see them.
Status page
- Public status shows uptime and current incidents; builds trust.
- Update during incidents so users know you are aware and working on it.
- Reduce support load: Fewer "is it down?" tickets when status is visible.
Summary
Monitor from multiple regions, alert with clear escalation, and maintain a status page. Reliable uptime visibility helps you react quickly and keeps users informed.
