Independent enterprise technology-change research

PT-2026-090 · dossier edition · 23 July 2026

PlatformTrace

Enterprise platform migrations, examined in public.

database platform migration · Completed HBase-to-DynamoDB migration · High confidence

Similarweb replaces an HBase workload lane with Amazon DynamoDB

Similarweb replaced its HBase-backed predictable-access data lane with DynamoDB while retaining Firebolt for separate analytics workloads.

Organisation
Similarweb
Predecessor
Apache HBase key-value lane for precomputed traffic and engagement datasets
Destination
Amazon DynamoDB with bulk historical import from Amazon S3
Workload
Precomputed website traffic and engagement metrics served to Similarweb web applications
Stage
Completed HBase-to-DynamoDB migration
Retirement status
The HBase-backed lane was replaced; the exact HBase retirement date is not published.
Confidence
High
Next trigger
A formal HBase retirement date or material change to the DynamoDB/Firebolt split.
Evidence boundary: The migration concerns the named key-value lane. Firebolt remains in use for dynamic OLAP queries, so this is not an all-platform DynamoDB claim.

Programme context

Similarweb replaced its HBase-backed predictable-access data lane with DynamoDB while retaining Firebolt for separate analytics workloads.

Why this matters: The record identifies a named organisation, an explicit predecessor and destination platform, and a bounded workload and lifecycle stage.

Migration timeline

Date or stageMilestoneWhat changedEvidence status
Architecture splitMigration milestoneSimilarweb separated predictable-access key-value workloads from dynamic analytics.Source-stated design
Production replacementMigration milestoneThe HBase-backed lane was replaced by DynamoDB.Source-stated completion
16 Jun 2026Migration milestoneThe technical account was published.Dated primary evidence

Workload migration matrix

WorkloadPredecessorDestinationStatus by 23 Jul 2026
Precomputed website traffic and engagement metrics served to Similarweb web applicationsApache HBase key-value lane for precomputed traffic and engagement datasetsAmazon DynamoDB with bulk historical import from Amazon S3Completed HBase-to-DynamoDB migration

Implementation and architecture

  • Bulk historical data was imported from Amazon S3.
  • Scheduled batches ingest approximately seven billion records per table.
  • Firebolt remains a separate analytics platform.

Known unknowns and contradictions

  • The exact production cutover date.
  • The exact HBase retirement date.
  • Residual HBase usage outside the named lane, if any.

No missing fact is inferred to broaden the source-supported migration claim.

PlatformTrace analysis

The migration concerns the named key-value lane. Firebolt remains in use for dynamic OLAP queries, so this is not an all-platform DynamoDB claim.

Performance, cost, uptime and operational outcomes remain attributed source claims unless independently stated otherwise.

Evidence ledger

  1. AWS Database Blog, 16 June 2026

    Similarweb R&D leadership and AWS describe the HBase source, DynamoDB target, 255 TB-plus datasets and completed post-migration architecture.

Approval: Issue #47 standing-authority publication queue.

Corrections and updates

23 July 2026 — Initial Verified dossier published from the complete five-lane overnight intake and corrected central adjudication. Later milestones will be appended rather than silently replacing this state.