What does SLO burn rate measure?

SLO burn rate specifically refers to the rate at which the budget allocated for service level objectives (SLOs) is consumed over a particular time period. This metric helps organizations understand how quickly they are using up their resources in relation to predefined objectives. By monitoring the burn rate, teams can assess whether they are on track to meet their performance targets or if adjustments are needed to prevent over-consumption of the SLO budget.

This measurement is crucial for managing service level agreements (SLAs) and ensuring that operational performance aligns with business objectives. A high burn rate may indicate that a service is not performing as expected, potentially leading to a breach of SLA obligations, while a lower burn rate suggests that the service is being maintained effectively within budget.

The other options don't align with the specific definition of burn rate: creating service level objectives, budget percentage, or overall application performance do not focus on the consumption of the SLO budget over time, which is the core of what SLO burn rate measures.