diff --git a/beater/beater.go b/beater/beater.go
index 9e703796a39..3bb2fd6d4eb 100644
--- a/beater/beater.go
+++ b/beater/beater.go
@@ -36,10 +36,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/elastic/beats/v7/libbeat/instrumentation"
 	"github.com/elastic/beats/v7/libbeat/logp"
 	esoutput "github.com/elastic/beats/v7/libbeat/outputs/elasticsearch"
-	"github.com/elastic/beats/v7/libbeat/processors"
 
 	"github.com/elastic/apm-server/beater/config"
-	"github.com/elastic/apm-server/datastreams"
 	"github.com/elastic/apm-server/elasticsearch"
 	"github.com/elastic/apm-server/ingest/pipeline"
 	logs "github.com/elastic/apm-server/log"
@@ -372,29 +370,12 @@ func newPublisher(b *beat.Beat, cfg *config.Config, tracer *apm.Tracer) (*publis
 		Pipeline:        cfg.Pipeline,
 		TransformConfig: transformConfig,
 	}
-	if !cfg.DataStreams.Enabled {
-		// Remove data_stream.* fields during publishing when data streams are disabled.
-		processors, err := processors.New(processors.PluginConfig{common.MustNewConfigFrom(
-			map[string]interface{}{
-				"drop_fields": map[string]interface{}{
-					"fields": []interface{}{
-						datastreams.TypeField,
-						datastreams.DatasetField,
-						datastreams.NamespaceField,
-					},
-				},
-			},
-		)})
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-		publisherConfig.Processor = processors
-	}
 	return publish.NewPublisher(b.Publisher, tracer, publisherConfig)
 }
 
 func newTransformConfig(beatInfo beat.Info, cfg *config.Config) (*transform.Config, error) {
 	transformConfig := &transform.Config{
+		DataStreams: cfg.DataStreams.Enabled,
 		RUM: transform.RUMConfig{
 			LibraryPattern:      regexp.MustCompile(cfg.RumConfig.LibraryPattern),
 			ExcludeFromGrouping: regexp.MustCompile(cfg.RumConfig.ExcludeFromGrouping),
diff --git a/model/error.go b/model/error.go
index e6ef6bf3c62..0c247c1a3bf 100644
--- a/model/error.go
+++ b/model/error.go
@@ -110,19 +110,20 @@ func (e *Error) Transform(ctx context.Context, cfg *transform.Config) []beat.Eve
 		addStacktraceCounter(e.Log.Stacktrace)
 	}
 
-	// Errors are stored in an APM errors-specific "logs" data stream, per service.
-	// By storing errors in a "logs" data stream, they can be viewed in the Logs app
-	// in Kibana.
-	dataset := fmt.Sprintf("apm.error.%s", datastreams.NormalizeServiceName(e.Metadata.Service.Name))
-
 	fields := common.MapStr{
-		datastreams.TypeField:    datastreams.LogsType,
-		datastreams.DatasetField: dataset,
-
 		"error":     e.fields(ctx, cfg),
 		"processor": errorProcessorEntry,
 	}
 
+	if cfg.DataStreams {
+		// Errors are stored in an APM errors-specific "logs" data stream, per service.
+		// By storing errors in a "logs" data stream, they can be viewed in the Logs app
+		// in Kibana.
+		dataset := fmt.Sprintf("apm.error.%s", datastreams.NormalizeServiceName(e.Metadata.Service.Name))
+		fields[datastreams.TypeField] = datastreams.LogsType
+		fields[datastreams.DatasetField] = dataset
+	}
+
 	// first set the generic metadata (order is relevant)
 	e.Metadata.Set(fields)
 	utility.Set(fields, "source", fields["client"])
diff --git a/model/error_test.go b/model/error_test.go
index 0ad89f04bf1..441c87a5f20 100644
--- a/model/error_test.go
+++ b/model/error_test.go
@@ -411,7 +411,8 @@ func TestEvents(t *testing.T) {
 	} {
 		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			outputEvents := tc.Transformable.Transform(context.Background(), &transform.Config{
-				RUM: transform.RUMConfig{SourcemapStore: &sourcemap.Store{}},
+				DataStreams: true,
+				RUM:         transform.RUMConfig{SourcemapStore: &sourcemap.Store{}},
 			})
 			require.Len(t, outputEvents, 1)
 			outputEvent := outputEvents[0]
diff --git a/model/metricset.go b/model/metricset.go
index f3afda7d5a3..099e987d686 100644
--- a/model/metricset.go
+++ b/model/metricset.go
@@ -148,13 +148,13 @@ type MetricsetSpan struct {
 	DestinationService DestinationService
 }
 
-func (me *Metricset) Transform(ctx context.Context, _ *transform.Config) []beat.Event {
+func (me *Metricset) Transform(ctx context.Context, cfg *transform.Config) []beat.Event {
 	metricsetTransformations.Inc()
 	if me == nil {
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	fields := common.MapStr{}
+	fields := make(common.MapStr, 5)
 	for _, sample := range me.Samples {
 		if err := sample.set(fields); err != nil {
 			logp.NewLogger(logs.Transform).Warnf("failed to transform sample %#v", sample)
@@ -185,19 +185,21 @@ func (me *Metricset) Transform(ctx context.Context, _ *transform.Config) []beat.
 		fields["timeseries"] = common.MapStr{"instance": me.TimeseriesInstanceID}
 	}
 
-	// Metrics are stored in "metrics" data streams.
-	dataset := "apm."
-	if isInternal {
-		// Metrics that include well-defined transaction/span fields
-		// (i.e. breakdown metrics, transaction and span metrics) will
-		// be stored separately from application and runtime metrics.
-		dataset += "internal."
-	}
-	dataset += datastreams.NormalizeServiceName(me.Metadata.Service.Name)
-
 	fields["processor"] = metricsetProcessorEntry
-	fields[datastreams.TypeField] = datastreams.MetricsType
-	fields[datastreams.DatasetField] = dataset
+
+	if cfg.DataStreams {
+		// Metrics are stored in "metrics" data streams.
+		dataset := "apm."
+		if isInternal {
+			// Metrics that include well-defined transaction/span fields
+			// (i.e. breakdown metrics, transaction and span metrics) will
+			// be stored separately from application and runtime metrics.
+			dataset = "apm.internal."
+		}
+		dataset += datastreams.NormalizeServiceName(me.Metadata.Service.Name)
+		fields[datastreams.TypeField] = datastreams.MetricsType
+		fields[datastreams.DatasetField] = dataset
+	}
 
 	return []beat.Event{{
 		Fields:    fields,
diff --git a/model/metricset_test.go b/model/metricset_test.go
index 29d5e658de4..33f55abe7a6 100644
--- a/model/metricset_test.go
+++ b/model/metricset_test.go
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ func TestTransform(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	for idx, test := range tests {
-		outputEvents := test.Metricset.Transform(context.Background(), &transform.Config{})
+		outputEvents := test.Metricset.Transform(context.Background(), &transform.Config{DataStreams: true})
 
 		for j, outputEvent := range outputEvents {
 			assert.Equal(t, test.Output[j], outputEvent.Fields, fmt.Sprintf("Failed at idx %v; %s", idx, test.Msg))
diff --git a/model/profile.go b/model/profile.go
index 566938453c2..e60ae24e6a5 100644
--- a/model/profile.go
+++ b/model/profile.go
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ type PprofProfile struct {
 }
 
 // Transform transforms a Profile into a sequence of beat.Events: one per profile sample.
-func (pp PprofProfile) Transform(ctx context.Context, _ *transform.Config) []beat.Event {
+func (pp PprofProfile) Transform(ctx context.Context, cfg *transform.Config) []beat.Event {
 	// Precompute value field names for use in each event.
 	// TODO(axw) limit to well-known value names?
 	profileTimestamp := time.Unix(0, pp.Profile.TimeNanos)
@@ -70,7 +70,10 @@ func (pp PprofProfile) Transform(ctx context.Context, _ *transform.Config) []bea
 	// Profiles are stored in their own "metrics" data stream, with a data
 	// set per service. This enables managing retention of profiling data
 	// per-service, and indepedently of lower volume metrics.
-	dataset := fmt.Sprintf("apm.profiling.%s", datastreams.NormalizeServiceName(pp.Metadata.Service.Name))
+	var dataset string
+	if cfg.DataStreams {
+		dataset = fmt.Sprintf("apm.profiling.%s", datastreams.NormalizeServiceName(pp.Metadata.Service.Name))
+	}
 
 	samples := make([]beat.Event, len(pp.Profile.Sample))
 	for i, sample := range pp.Profile.Sample {
@@ -122,12 +125,14 @@ func (pp PprofProfile) Transform(ctx context.Context, _ *transform.Config) []bea
 		event := beat.Event{
 			Timestamp: profileTimestamp,
 			Fields: common.MapStr{
-				datastreams.TypeField:    datastreams.MetricsType,
-				datastreams.DatasetField: dataset,
-				"processor":              profileProcessorEntry,
-				profileDocType:           profileFields,
+				"processor":    profileProcessorEntry,
+				profileDocType: profileFields,
 			},
 		}
+		if cfg.DataStreams {
+			event.Fields[datastreams.TypeField] = datastreams.MetricsType
+			event.Fields[datastreams.DatasetField] = dataset
+		}
 		pp.Metadata.Set(event.Fields)
 		if len(sample.Label) > 0 {
 			labels := make(common.MapStr)
diff --git a/model/span.go b/model/span.go
index f14c6174b22..7c6ca7230e6 100644
--- a/model/span.go
+++ b/model/span.go
@@ -191,17 +191,18 @@ func (e *Span) Transform(ctx context.Context, cfg *transform.Config) []beat.Even
 		spanFrameCounter.Add(int64(frames))
 	}
 
-	// Spans are stored in a "traces" data stream along with transactions.
-	dataset := fmt.Sprintf("apm.%s", datastreams.NormalizeServiceName(e.Metadata.Service.Name))
-
 	fields := common.MapStr{
-		datastreams.TypeField:    datastreams.TracesType,
-		datastreams.DatasetField: dataset,
-
 		"processor": spanProcessorEntry,
 		spanDocType: e.fields(ctx, cfg),
 	}
 
+	if cfg.DataStreams {
+		// Spans are stored in a "traces" data stream along with transactions.
+		dataset := fmt.Sprintf("apm.%s", datastreams.NormalizeServiceName(e.Metadata.Service.Name))
+		fields[datastreams.TypeField] = datastreams.TracesType
+		fields[datastreams.DatasetField] = dataset
+	}
+
 	// first set the generic metadata
 	e.Metadata.Set(fields)
 
diff --git a/model/span_test.go b/model/span_test.go
index 2d1f8e26165..3a803ca4bbf 100644
--- a/model/span_test.go
+++ b/model/span_test.go
@@ -177,7 +177,8 @@ func TestSpanTransform(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, test := range tests {
 		output := test.Span.Transform(context.Background(), &transform.Config{
-			RUM: transform.RUMConfig{SourcemapStore: &sourcemap.Store{}},
+			DataStreams: true,
+			RUM:         transform.RUMConfig{SourcemapStore: &sourcemap.Store{}},
 		})
 		fields := output[0].Fields
 		assert.Equal(t, test.Output, fields, test.Msg)
diff --git a/model/transaction.go b/model/transaction.go
index e0c1959243c..c1e57793fd6 100644
--- a/model/transaction.go
+++ b/model/transaction.go
@@ -110,20 +110,21 @@ func (e *Transaction) fields() common.MapStr {
 	return common.MapStr(fields)
 }
 
-func (e *Transaction) Transform(_ context.Context, _ *transform.Config) []beat.Event {
+func (e *Transaction) Transform(_ context.Context, cfg *transform.Config) []beat.Event {
 	transactionTransformations.Inc()
 
-	// Transactions are stored in a "traces" data stream along with spans.
-	dataset := fmt.Sprintf("apm.%s", datastreams.NormalizeServiceName(e.Metadata.Service.Name))
-
 	fields := common.MapStr{
-		datastreams.TypeField:    datastreams.TracesType,
-		datastreams.DatasetField: dataset,
-
 		"processor":        transactionProcessorEntry,
 		transactionDocType: e.fields(),
 	}
 
+	if cfg.DataStreams {
+		// Transactions are stored in a "traces" data stream along with spans.
+		dataset := fmt.Sprintf("apm.%s", datastreams.NormalizeServiceName(e.Metadata.Service.Name))
+		fields[datastreams.TypeField] = datastreams.TracesType
+		fields[datastreams.DatasetField] = dataset
+	}
+
 	// first set generic metadata (order is relevant)
 	e.Metadata.Set(fields)
 	utility.Set(fields, "source", fields["client"])
diff --git a/model/transaction_test.go b/model/transaction_test.go
index 4fd04bacd41..981b57b3bb5 100644
--- a/model/transaction_test.go
+++ b/model/transaction_test.go
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ func TestEventsTransformWithMetadata(t *testing.T) {
 		Custom:    &Custom{"foo": "bar"},
 		Message:   &Message{QueueName: tests.StringPtr("routeUser")},
 	}
-	events := txWithContext.Transform(context.Background(), &transform.Config{})
+	events := txWithContext.Transform(context.Background(), &transform.Config{DataStreams: true})
 	require.Len(t, events, 1)
 	assert.Equal(t, events[0].Fields, common.MapStr{
 		"data_stream.type":    "traces",
diff --git a/processor/otel/consumer_test.go b/processor/otel/consumer_test.go
index d0abf94a4a4..09796037861 100644
--- a/processor/otel/consumer_test.go
+++ b/processor/otel/consumer_test.go
@@ -504,7 +504,7 @@ func testAttributeStringValue(s string) *tracepb.AttributeValue {
 func transformAll(ctx context.Context, p publish.PendingReq) []beat.Event {
 	var events []beat.Event
 	for _, transformable := range p.Transformables {
-		events = append(events, transformable.Transform(ctx, &transform.Config{})...)
+		events = append(events, transformable.Transform(ctx, &transform.Config{DataStreams: true})...)
 	}
 	return events
 }
diff --git a/processor/stream/processor_test.go b/processor/stream/processor_test.go
index 9ca9ac3d5da..16cf380995f 100644
--- a/processor/stream/processor_test.go
+++ b/processor/stream/processor_test.go
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ func makeApproveEventsReporter(t *testing.T, name string) publish.Reporter {
 	return func(ctx context.Context, p publish.PendingReq) error {
 		var events []beat.Event
 		for _, transformable := range p.Transformables {
-			events = append(events, transformable.Transform(ctx, &transform.Config{})...)
+			events = append(events, transformable.Transform(ctx, &transform.Config{DataStreams: true})...)
 		}
 		docs := beatertest.EncodeEventDocs(events...)
 		approvaltest.ApproveEventDocs(t, name, docs)
diff --git a/publish/pub.go b/publish/pub.go
index 5a06f2c064e..b6e918df970 100644
--- a/publish/pub.go
+++ b/publish/pub.go
@@ -88,7 +88,6 @@ func NewPublisher(pipeline beat.Pipeline, tracer *apm.Tracer, cfg *PublisherConf
 
 	processingCfg := beat.ProcessingConfig{
 		Fields: common.MapStr{
-			datastreams.NamespaceField: "default",
 			"observer": common.MapStr{
 				"type":          cfg.Info.Beat,
 				"hostname":      cfg.Info.Hostname,
@@ -100,6 +99,9 @@ func NewPublisher(pipeline beat.Pipeline, tracer *apm.Tracer, cfg *PublisherConf
 		},
 		Processor: cfg.Processor,
 	}
+	if cfg.TransformConfig.DataStreams {
+		processingCfg.Fields[datastreams.NamespaceField] = "default"
+	}
 	if cfg.Pipeline != "" {
 		processingCfg.Meta = map[string]interface{}{"pipeline": cfg.Pipeline}
 	}
diff --git a/testdata/jaeger/batch_0.approved.json b/testdata/jaeger/batch_0.approved.json
index f84030bb217..e30bc33d761 100644
--- a/testdata/jaeger/batch_0.approved.json
+++ b/testdata/jaeger/batch_0.approved.json
@@ -7,8 +7,6 @@
                 "name": "Jaeger/Go",
                 "version": "2.20.1"
             },
-            "data_stream.dataset": "apm.driver",
-            "data_stream.type": "traces",
             "event": {
                 "outcome": "success"
             },
@@ -62,8 +60,6 @@
                 "name": "Jaeger/Go",
                 "version": "2.20.1"
             },
-            "data_stream.dataset": "apm.error.driver",
-            "data_stream.type": "logs",
             "error": {
                 "exception": [
                     {
@@ -114,8 +110,6 @@
                 "name": "Jaeger/Go",
                 "version": "2.20.1"
             },
-            "data_stream.dataset": "apm.error.driver",
-            "data_stream.type": "logs",
             "error": {
                 "exception": [
                     {
@@ -166,8 +160,6 @@
                 "name": "Jaeger/Go",
                 "version": "2.20.1"
             },
-            "data_stream.dataset": "apm.error.driver",
-            "data_stream.type": "logs",
             "error": {
                 "exception": [
                     {
diff --git a/testdata/jaeger/batch_1.approved.json b/testdata/jaeger/batch_1.approved.json
index 5a6e6669a20..336fc199743 100644
--- a/testdata/jaeger/batch_1.approved.json
+++ b/testdata/jaeger/batch_1.approved.json
@@ -7,8 +7,6 @@
                 "name": "Jaeger/Go",
                 "version": "2.20.1"
             },
-            "data_stream.dataset": "apm.redis",
-            "data_stream.type": "traces",
             "event": {
                 "outcome": "unknown"
             },
@@ -58,8 +56,6 @@
                 "name": "Jaeger/Go",
                 "version": "2.20.1"
             },
-            "data_stream.dataset": "apm.redis",
-            "data_stream.type": "traces",
             "event": {
                 "outcome": "unknown"
             },
@@ -110,8 +106,6 @@
                 "name": "Jaeger/Go",
                 "version": "2.20.1"
             },
-            "data_stream.dataset": "apm.redis",
-            "data_stream.type": "traces",
             "event": {
                 "outcome": "unknown"
             },
@@ -161,8 +155,6 @@
                 "name": "Jaeger/Go",
                 "version": "2.20.1"
             },
-            "data_stream.dataset": "apm.redis",
-            "data_stream.type": "traces",
             "event": {
                 "outcome": "unknown"
             },
@@ -212,8 +204,6 @@
                 "name": "Jaeger/Go",
                 "version": "2.20.1"
             },
-            "data_stream.dataset": "apm.redis",
-            "data_stream.type": "traces",
             "event": {
                 "outcome": "unknown"
             },
@@ -263,8 +253,6 @@
                 "name": "Jaeger/Go",
                 "version": "2.20.1"
             },
-            "data_stream.dataset": "apm.redis",
-            "data_stream.type": "traces",
             "event": {
                 "outcome": "unknown"
             },
@@ -314,8 +302,6 @@
                 "name": "Jaeger/Go",
                 "version": "2.20.1"
             },
-            "data_stream.dataset": "apm.redis",
-            "data_stream.type": "traces",
             "event": {
                 "outcome": "unknown"
             },
@@ -366,8 +352,6 @@
                 "name": "Jaeger/Go",
                 "version": "2.20.1"
             },
-            "data_stream.dataset": "apm.redis",
-            "data_stream.type": "traces",
             "event": {
                 "outcome": "unknown"
             },
@@ -417,8 +401,6 @@
                 "name": "Jaeger/Go",
                 "version": "2.20.1"
             },
-            "data_stream.dataset": "apm.redis",
-            "data_stream.type": "traces",
             "event": {
                 "outcome": "unknown"
             },
@@ -468,8 +450,6 @@
                 "name": "Jaeger/Go",
                 "version": "2.20.1"
             },
-            "data_stream.dataset": "apm.redis",
-            "data_stream.type": "traces",
             "event": {
                 "outcome": "unknown"
             },
@@ -519,8 +499,6 @@
                 "name": "Jaeger/Go",
                 "version": "2.20.1"
             },
-            "data_stream.dataset": "apm.redis",
-            "data_stream.type": "traces",
             "event": {
                 "outcome": "unknown"
             },
@@ -570,8 +548,6 @@
                 "name": "Jaeger/Go",
                 "version": "2.20.1"
             },
-            "data_stream.dataset": "apm.redis",
-            "data_stream.type": "traces",
             "event": {
                 "outcome": "unknown"
             },
@@ -622,8 +598,6 @@
                 "name": "Jaeger/Go",
                 "version": "2.20.1"
             },
-            "data_stream.dataset": "apm.redis",
-            "data_stream.type": "traces",
             "event": {
                 "outcome": "unknown"
             },
@@ -673,8 +647,6 @@
                 "name": "Jaeger/Go",
                 "version": "2.20.1"
             },
-            "data_stream.dataset": "apm.redis",
-            "data_stream.type": "traces",
             "event": {
                 "outcome": "unknown"
             },
@@ -724,8 +696,6 @@
                 "name": "Jaeger/Go",
                 "version": "2.20.1"
             },
-            "data_stream.dataset": "apm.error.redis",
-            "data_stream.type": "logs",
             "error": {
                 "exception": [
                     {
@@ -772,8 +742,6 @@
                 "name": "Jaeger/Go",
                 "version": "2.20.1"
             },
-            "data_stream.dataset": "apm.error.redis",
-            "data_stream.type": "logs",
             "error": {
                 "exception": [
                     {
@@ -820,8 +788,6 @@
                 "name": "Jaeger/Go",
                 "version": "2.20.1"
             },
-            "data_stream.dataset": "apm.error.redis",
-            "data_stream.type": "logs",
             "error": {
                 "exception": [
                     {
diff --git a/transform/transform.go b/transform/transform.go
index d44eea774ec..459bc171985 100644
--- a/transform/transform.go
+++ b/transform/transform.go
@@ -32,6 +32,10 @@ type Transformable interface {
 
 // Config holds general transformation configuration.
 type Config struct {
+	// DataStreams records whether or not data streams are enabled.
+	// If true, then data_stream fields should be added to all events.
+	DataStreams bool
+
 	RUM RUMConfig
 }