Introducing New Navigation for MongoDB Atlas and Cloud Manager

MongoDB is excited to announce a major update to MongoDB Atlas and MongoDB Cloud Manager: a redesigned user experience that improves the workflow and navigation to access services and tools. This redesign ensures users can seamlessly navigate the Atlas and Cloud Manager platforms, intuitively accessing their most-used services and completing tasks more efficiently.

Figure 1. Previous project-level homepage and primary side navigation in MongoDB Atlas.

The Atlas platform has expanded significantly since the last navigation redesign in 2020, with MongoDB introducing many new features and functionality, including Atlas Search and Atlas Vector Search, Atlas Charts, and Atlas Stream Processing. The latest navigation redesign has been architected from the outset to encompass these capabilities, addressing users' diverse needs—from monitoring deployments and managing billing to enhancing data visualization and enabling advanced search functionality—while delivering a streamlined, workflow-driven platform for users.

Figure 2. Previous resource context (e.g., organization, project, cluster) for workflow tracking in MongoDB Atlas.

Figure 3. Previous top navigation architecture in MongoDB Atlas.

Starting two and a half years ago, MongoDB’s Design Strategy team began the redesign process by collecting customer feedback and engaging in dialogue. The team’s overall goal with the Atlas and Cloud Manager redesign was to create a holistic, seamlessly integrated platform that streamlined the developer experience.

Figure 4. Redesigned homepage and primary side navigation at the project level in MongoDB Atlas.

The redesigned navigation improves developers’ experience in the following ways:

• Workflow-focused architecture: The new architecture is clean and intuitive. It preserves developers’ “flow state” by guiding them through their workflows. The updated navigation prioritizes Atlas platform services, highlighting them according to the user’s workflow. This makes it easier for developers to focus on the most relevant tools for their current tasks, enabling them to work more efficiently and innovate faster.

• Consistent, familiar experience: The new navigation design provides a consistent experience across the Atlas and Cloud Manager platforms. This makes it easier for developers to switch between the two interfaces. This consistent, intuitive interface enhances wayfinding and boosts overall productivity.

What’s changing in MongoDB Atlas?

The redesigned Atlas navigation introduces the following key updates:

1. Clearer resource context

The updated top navigation bar, the resource navigator, always shows a developer which resource (e.g., project, organization, cluster) they are working on. Switching between resources is now simpler, with improved context clarity as users navigate deeper into Atlas. For example, switching between search indexes across different collections can now be done in a single click. The new workflow negates any need to backtrack to a project’s overview.

Figure 5. Redesigned secondary side navigation at the project level in MongoDB Atlas, with an extended resource navigator in the top navigation bar.

2. Centralized utilities hub

Essential utilities such as Support, Billing, Organization and Project Access, Alerts, and the User Settings are consolidated in one location at the top-right corner, ensuring rapid access to MongoDB utilities. Users can also access the product menu to find MongoDB University, Documentation, Community Forums, and Support.

Figure 6. Redesigned utilities hub with an expanded product menu in MongoDB Atlas.

3. Simplified side (left) navigation

The side navigation is now organized into four categories: Database, Streaming Data, Services, and Security. These categories group Atlas's capabilities to reflect the tasks a developer commonly performs within Atlas, making it easier for them to find the right services for the job.

• Database: Contains all core database capabilities. Includes cluster management and monitoring tools, Atlas Search and Atlas Vector Search for powerful search capabilities, Data Explorer to refine, model, and optimize data, and backups.

• Streaming Data: Contains services for event-driven data processing and automation. Includes capabilities such as Atlas Stream Processing for real-time data analysis and Triggers for automating database actions.

• Services: Contains products for data management. Includes capabilities such as Migration for migrating existing deployments to Atlas, Data Federation for cross-source queries, and Visualization (Atlas Charts) for creating and embedding data visualizations.

• Security: Contains controls for data access and protection. Includes capabilities like project settings, project identity and access, database and network access, and advanced security.

Other features, such as Online Archive, Query Insights, Performance Advisor, and others, are located in the secondary side navigation under ‘Clusters’.

Figure 7. Redesigned secondary side navigation in the ‘Clusters’ view in MongoDB Atlas, highlighting Online Archive.

4. Shortcuts in secondary side navigation

The side navigation now includes a shortcuts section at the bottom of the Clusters view. Shortcuts act as quick links to complementary platform services related to the active cluster, allowing users to navigate seamlessly between tools without losing context. Clicking a shortcut automatically redirects users to the corresponding Platform Service for the cluster they currently view.

On the organizational level, the new side navigation architecture is organized into three categories: identity and access, billing, and security.

Figure 8. Redesigned primary side navigation at the organization level in MongoDB Atlas.

What’s changing in MongoDB Cloud Manager?

Although Cloud Manager functions similarly to Atlas, several adjustments were made to improve the Cloud Manager experience:

1. Left navigation

On the organizational level, the new architecture for the side navigation will be organized into three categories:

• Identity and access: Add, delete, and manage users, teams, and API Keys within a specific project.

• Billing: View, track, and manage your charges while using Cloud Manager.

• Configurations: Set up Kubernetes and Atlas Resource Policies, view the Activity Feed, and manage additional administrative functions.

Figure 9. Redesigned primary side navigation at the organization level in Cloud Manager.

On a project level, the side navigation will be organized into two categories:

• Database: Manage Processes, Servers, Agents, Security, and Continuous Backup for your deployments.

• Admin: Monitor Pings, MongoDB Process Arguments, Deleted Hosts, Profiler Request History, Raw Automation Config, and view the Activity Feed.

Figure 10. Redesigned primary side navigation at the project level in Cloud Manager.

2. Resource navigator

Cloud Manager features the same resource navigator tool in the top navigation bar as Atlas. This addition provides clear visibility of the resource users are working on in Cloud Manager, whether it’s a project or an organization.

3. Centralized utilities hub

Cloud Manager features the updated utility hub mentioned in the changes to MongoDB Atlas. This hub allows users to access the same essential utilities and product menu to discover other MongoDB offerings in one place.

The updated navigation is currently live for MongoDB Cloud Manager and MongoDB Atlas. All Atlas and Cloud Manager users can submit feedback to share their thoughts on the new navigation experience. For more details on the latest changes to the navigation, check out MongoDB’s documentation.