Today’s observability platforms are often vertically integrated—binding data storage, query, and visualization layers into a single stack. This tight coupling drives up costs, makes integrations painful, and slows teams down. But it doesn’t have to be this way. In this talk, we’ll explore how SRE teams can benefit from a more modular approach to observability—one inspired by the evolution of Business Intelligence. Just as BI stacks evolved to separate ETL, data warehouses, and dashboards, observability stacks can be designed around clear boundaries: interoperable tools, technology-neutral query layers, and plug-and-play storage. You’ll learn why decoupled observability architecture is essential for cost control, agility, and tool flexibility—and how to move toward a stack that meets the real-world needs of today’s SRE teams.
Peter Marshall is a technology leader and community builder with a background in developer relations, data architecture, and digital transformation. As Director of Developer Relations at Imply, he leads programs that grow and engage the global Apache Druid community through education, support, and events. With experience across startups, enterprises, and the public sector, Peter brings a blend of technical expertise and strategic vision to help organizations connect with developers and drive impact through open source.
