What is a primary benefit of using AWS CloudWatch?

The primary benefit of using AWS CloudWatch lies in its capability to help visualize and analyze logs and metrics side by side. This allows users to monitor various AWS resources and applications in real time, facilitating better understanding and timely responses to performance issues. By combining logs and metrics, CloudWatch enables engineers and developers to gain insights into the operations of their systems, identify trends, and pinpoint areas that require attention.

The integration of logs and metrics aids in creating a comprehensive view of the system's health, allowing for more effective troubleshooting and optimization. This dual visibility is crucial as it enhances the overall operational efficiency and fosters a proactive approach to system management.

In contrast, other options do not capture the unique strengths of CloudWatch. While simplifying billing is an aspect relevant to cloud cost management, it is not a core function of CloudWatch. Moreover, it provides monitoring capabilities beyond just EC2 instances, thus supporting a wide range of AWS resources, and it is not limited to AWS environments, as it can also be configured to monitor on-premises servers and applications.