Linking DynamoDB as a source

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Alpha release

This source is currently in alpha. The interface and available tables may change.

The DynamoDB connector syncs your database data into the PostHog data warehouse, so you can analyze it alongside your product data.

Prerequisites

Credentials that can read the data you want to sync. PostHog only reads data, so read access is enough.

Adding a data source

  1. In PostHog, go to the Sources tab of the data pipeline section.
  2. Click + New source and click Link next to this source.
  3. Enter your credentials (see Configuration below) and click Next.
  4. Select the tables you want to sync, choose a sync method and frequency, then click Import.

Once the syncs are complete, you can start querying this data in PostHog.

Enter an AWS access key with read access to DynamoDB to import your tables.

Create an IAM user whose policy allows dynamodb:ListTables, dynamodb:DescribeTable and dynamodb:Scan, then paste its access key below. Tables are read with a full table scan, so every sync uses read capacity on the table.

You'll be asked for:

  • AWS access key ID: for example AKIA....
  • AWS secret access key
  • AWS region: for example us-east-1.

Sync modes

Each table can be synced in one of several modes, depending on what the source supports:

  • Webhook (when available) – the source pushes changes to PostHog in real time. Fastest freshness, lowest ongoing cost, and the only mode that reliably captures updates and deletes.
  • Incremental – only new or updated rows are synced on each run, using a cursor field (such as an updated_at timestamp). Cheaper than a full refresh, but deletes aren't captured.
  • Append only – new rows are appended using a cursor field; existing rows are never updated. Ideal for immutable, append-only tables like event logs.
  • Full refresh – the whole table is reloaded on every sync. Use it when a table has no reliable cursor or when you need deletions reflected.

See sync methods for a full explanation of how each mode works and how to choose between them.

All DynamoDB tables are full refresh. Each sync replaces the contents of the table.

Configuration

OptionDescription
AWS access key ID
Type: text
Required: True
AWS secret access key
Type: password
Required: True
AWS region
Type: text
Required: True
AWS session token
Type: password
Required: False

Only for temporary credentials. Session tokens expire after a few hours, so scheduled syncs will fail once the token expires. Use a permanent access key (starts with AKIA) for recurring imports.

Supported tables

The tables available from this source are discovered from your account when you connect it, so the exact list depends on your data. Once connected, you can pick which tables to sync from the sources tab.

Troubleshooting

  • If the connection fails with an authorization error, the AWS access key ID is wrong, expired, or has been revoked. Create a new one, then reconnect the source.
  • If a table syncs no rows, the credential may not have access to that data. Check its permissions, then reconnect the source.

If your sync is failing or data looks wrong, see the Data warehouse troubleshooting guide. If that doesn't help, contact support – we're happy to help.

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