Machine data is collected from multiple sources of an operating environment such as an information technology system, factory floor, or the like, into a data intake and query system, in one embodiment. Metrics representative of the environment are included in or derived from the data. Users may interact with an interface to depict a representation of various metrics and interdependencies and that depiction is reflected in a computer storage model. Changes to the computer storage model based on the user interaction may also result in automatic changes to control information reflected in the computer storage model that directs the processing of various monitoring functions associated with the metrics.