By
Jyoti Tejpal
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Network monitoring software is a solution which provides to evaluate IT infrastructure performance and internet traffic in a business network to enhance IT resource utilization. IT helps in monitoring connected servers, and many peripherals in continuity, real-time basis to check possible issues. Besides, it offers identifying abnormalities in the network and take strategic actions to decreases or avoid further damage.
In the digital world, the term network monitoring is large enough throughout the IT industry. Network monitoring is a crucial IT procedure where all networking components such as routers, switches, firewalls, servers, and VMs are tracked for fault and performance and checked continuously to organize and optimize the availability. One critical aspect of network monitoring is that it must be proactive. Finding performance issues and bottlenecks proactively help in identifying problems at the initial stage. Effective proactive monitoring helps prevent network downtime or failures.
Faulty network devices affect network performance. This can be removed through early checking/detection, and this is how continuous monitoring of the network and related devices is necessary. Ineffective network monitoring, the first step is to identify the methods and the associated performance metrics to be monitored. The second step is evaluating the monitoring interval. Devices such as desktops and printers are not crucial. They do not need frequent monitoring but servers, routers and switches perform business key tasks but at the same time have specific parameters that can be selectively checked/monitored.
Monitoring interval helps the frequency at which the network devices and its related metrics are polled to detect the performance and availability status. Setting up monitoring intervals can offer to take the load off the network monitoring system and in turn, user resources. The range is very much dependent on the type of network device or performance being monitored. Availability of devices with its current status has to be followed the least period most preferably every minute. CPU and memory statistics gets monitored once in every 5 minutes. The monitoring interval for many other metrics such as Disk utilization can be lengthened and is little more than sufficient if it is polled once every 15 minutes. Monitoring each device at the least interval will only add unnecessary load to the network and is not entirely required.
Network monitoring software not only offers to help in organizing proper network continuity, but it also helps keep IT infrastructure and business data safe from external threats. A lack of network monitoring software or lower execution level of a monitoring solution can lead to unexpected crashes, data leaks, and slow device performance, among other issues.
Network Monitoring Software provides such advantages as:
Complete IT infrastructure monitoring: Network monitoring software provides single-window visibility into all IT equipment and accessories used by an organization. This offers administrators to monitor the performance of individual equipment along with the complete network. This is needful in scenarios where shutting down one part of the material can help the whole system.
Smooth network operations: Network monitoring software offers to help organizations stay engrossed with clients through continuous and uninterrupted network operations. Network administrators can even have advance notice to employees and external stakeholders if they plan to shut down the network for maintenance and upgrades temporarily. This offers companies to meet their service-level agreements and provide services as promised.
Traffic monitoring: With popular features such as bandwidth analysis and throttling, network monitoring solutions provide administrators to better utilize their network bandwidth and run apps more smoothly. They can check-in disruptive apps, find employees that are wasting bandwidth on non-official work, critically checking past bandwidth utilization to predict future requirements, etc.
Bandwidth monitoring: Measuring the bandwidth usage of all the IT assets and resources connected to a network.
Dashboard: Monitoring network performance on an interactive interface and gathering real-time insights.
Server monitoring: Scanning both physical and virtual servers connected to a network and flagging any abnormalities.
Network diagnosis: Scanning, diagnosing, and reporting network problems, identifying their root cause, and implementing best practices and mitigating them.
Internet usage monitoring: Tracking internet usage by each employee and resource in a shared network.
IP address monitoring: Monitoring IP addresses of incoming traffic and take preventative measures against unidentified or malicious resources.
Most products available in the market are priced on a “per agent per month” basis and can be divided into three pricing tiers based on their starting price. A premium product is priced higher and has unique features like in-depth reporting, multi-tenancy, and custom branding.
Full-suite solution versus individual module: Large enterprises typically go for a broader network management suite which can manage network performance, configurations, and security layouts in addition to network monitoring. Such suites offer more features but are also pricier, particularly from a small business or startup point of view. A basic network monitoring solution helps in performing most of the required functions for small and midsize companies at a reasonable cost. These organizations should invest in individual modules which help address their specific requirements rather than opting for a broad network monitoring coverage.
Open source versus proprietary software: Open source solutions are usually available for no charge and are preferable for businesses with full-fledged IT teams to do in-house customizations. On the other hand, proprietary software is provided on a subscription basis, often without the option to customize on the user’s end. Businesses get to evaluate their IT competencies and then choose the type of network monitoring software that fits best.
Rise of the internet of things (IoT) will demand intelligent network monitoring software: Many organizations are now adopting the IoT for day-to-day operations. IoT connections will increase in the coming years, and so will the traffic coming out of them. This can create new problems for network administrators. Sellers like Domotz are working on building intelligent remote network monitoring software that can help the ad hoc needs of IoT devices.
Software-defined networking (SDN): SDN gives space to network administrators to make more agile and flexible networks without changing the physical setup, simply reorganizing configurations. This procedure is an upgrade from the traditional architecture, in which individual devices make traffic decisions based on their configured routing tables. In the next few years, organizations will be adopting more SDN architecture to make the networks more flexible and work-friendly.
