In 2021, Datadog released a Lambda extension to simplify monitoring AWS Lambda functions, focusing on the challenges of resource constraints like extension size and cold start times. To address these, a new Rust-based extension was developed, leveraging Rust's efficient memory management to reduce resource consumption and enhance performance. This next-generation extension significantly improved cold start times from 450ms to 50ms by minimizing memory overhead and optimizing CPU usage, thus reducing operational costs and improving function response times. The extension is designed to integrate seamlessly with Lambda's limitations, providing enhanced metrics and real-time traces with minimal impact. Users can access this improved functionality by installing the Datadog Agent for AWS Lambda, and new users can explore it through a 14-day free trial.