Getting Synthetics Right: A Best Practices Series for Synthetic Tests You Can Trust

Synthetic monitoring that actually helps: Why synthetics need best practices

Synthetic monitoring is one of the fastest ways to understand if your web app is working, especially when you need something quick and low-effort without waiting on instrumentation or code changes. It’s flexible. It’s fast. And when done right, it’s incredibly valuable.

But here’s the catch: synthetics only deliver real value when they’re not just used, but configured well.

This synthetic monitoring best practices series is your guide to building reliable, actionable, and trustworthy synthetic browser tests.

In nearly two decades working in observability, leading Observability/Platform teams, rolling out enterprise monitoring strategies, and helping others do the same, I’ve seen synthetic tests catch major issues before anyone filed a ticket. I’ve also seen them flood teams with noise and false alarms.

The difference comes down to how those tests are designed, validated, and managed.This series is about helping you get that part right.

What makes Synthetic Browser Tests so valuable

This series focuses specifically on synthetic browser tests, the kind that simulate actual user behavior through login flows, searches, or transactions in real browsers. These tests provide more than just availability checks. They help answer the question, "Is the experience working the way it should?"

Synthetic browser tests are your always-on, active monitoring layer. They don’t wait for user traffic. They simulate it 24x7 across environments, locations, and user journeys. When positioned correctly, synthetic tests sit at the front of your Digital Experience Monitoring (DEM) strategy and feed valuable insight into your passive monitoring layers like real user monitoring (RUM) and application performance monitoring (APM).

Here’s why synthetic browser tests still matter:

• They work when nothing else is talking. During low-traffic hours, pre-prod testing, and partial outages, they give you a consistent, reliable signal.
• They help reduce alert fatigue. Every alert is tied to a synthetic test that reflects a critical user journey, keeping signals focused and meaningful.
• They catch issues proactively. A well-crafted test can detect a broken flow before customers ever notice.
• They establish baselines. Because they run predictably and consistently, synthetic tests help spot regressions and performance drift over time.

When synthetic browser tests are treated as first-class observability signals, they bring real confidence to your team and your monitoring strategy.

What this series will cover

This series is about getting real value from your synthetic browser tests. Making them reliable. Actionable. Aligned to what actually matters.

Whether you’re starting fresh or trying to improve what’s already in place, these best practices are based on what I’ve seen work in production environments across teams and industries. Each post will focus on one key area, covering what it is, why it matters, how to apply it, and how Splunk can help. Expect practical guidance, pro tips, and real-world examples.

Here’s what’s coming:

1. Design with Purpose

Build short, critical journeys, grouped into transactions, and keep backend systems visible.

2. Assert Like You Mean It

Validate outcomes, not just page loads.

3. Walk the Walk

Test flows the way users actually experience them.

4. Use Known Good Data

Stabilize inputs to reduce false positives.

5. Smart Thresholding

Tune your alerts to surface issues, not noise.

6. Treat Tests Like Code

Maintain and evolve tests as your app changes.

7. Test Before You Ship

Run tests in pre-prod and catch issues early.

8. Location Matters

Run tests where your users actually are.

9. Instrument the Instrumentation

Monitor the health of your tests themselves.

If you're looking to reduce alert fatigue, increase trust in your tests, or improve what you've already built, this series will give you a strong foundation.

Follow along and join the conversation

I’d invite you to tag along as we walk through each of these best practices, one post at a time. Not familiar with synthetic browser tests or want a quick refresher? Check out this short video from my colleague Moss Normand for a solid intro to what synthetics are and why they matter.

Let’s make synthetics something your team can count on.