Observability has become a crucial component in modern IT, offering deeper insights into system performance than traditional monitoring, which merely identifies issues. This post, the first in a series, explores the importance of database observability at MongoDB, highlighting its role in enhancing system reliability, innovation, and customer experience. MongoDB employs a unique strategy with out-of-the-box tools designed for its environments, providing continuous feedback to optimize performance and minimize downtime. The approach includes integrating MongoDB’s metrics into existing observability stacks like Datadog and Prometheus, offering a unified view of performance. MongoDB's observability suite, supporting platforms like Atlas and Cloud Manager, is tailored for modern database management, offering automated tools for optimization and strategic scaling. Features like the Performance Advisor and Schema Advisor enhance database efficiency, while comprehensive alerting and third-party integrations improve operational effectiveness. The series will further explore MongoDB’s tools, third-party integrations, and use cases to showcase how observability supports the evolving needs of customer applications.