Allow administrators and users to configure the default Fast Query Mode behavior in Unbounded Analytics

Problem Statement

When users click Analyze Calls, the resulting Unbounded Analytics search automatically opens with Fast Query Mode enabled.

Many users assume the results displayed represent the complete dataset and are unaware that Fast Query Mode trades completeness for speed. This can lead to confusion when expanding the time range, as previously visible calls or traces may disappear due to the approximation behavior of Fast Query Mode.

The current behavior can cause users to question the accuracy of the platform because widening the search window may unexpectedly return fewer results than a smaller time range.

Enhancement Request

Provide configurable controls for Fast Query Mode, including:

• Tenant-wide default setting
• User-specific default setting
• Ability to disable Fast Query Mode by default for Analyze Calls
• Option to remember the user's last selected preference
• Clear visual indication when approximate results are being displayed

Business Justification

• Improves trust in analytics results.
• Reduces support questions around missing or inconsistent search results.
• Gives customers flexibility based on their priorities (speed vs accuracy).
• Aligns behavior with user expectations that search results are complete unless explicitly opting into approximation.
• Improves usability for troubleshooting, incident analysis, and audit investigations where result completeness is critical.

Customer Impact

Users investigating application issues expect search results to be complete and deterministic.

A common workflow is:

1. Select Analyze Calls
2. Review results for a recent period
3. Expand the search to a larger timeframe
4. Observe previously visible calls no longer appearing

This creates the perception that Instana is losing data or producing inconsistent analytics results, when in reality Fast Query Mode has changed how the results are computed.

For new users especially, this behavior is not intuitive and can reduce confidence in the platform.