Best Network Monitoring Software
Featured Network Monitoring Software At A Glance
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Learn More About Network Monitoring Software
What is Network Monitoring Software?
Network monitoring software allows companies to keep tabs on every aspect of their network’s functionality. It enables companies to set a functional baseline for their networks, and the monitoring software will relay via alerts and emails when the network dips below that baseline. Network monitoring software also provides dashboards that allow companies to view their network’s performance in real time.
Network monitoring solutions are key to creating and preserving optimal network function, especially because network integrity is so important to modern business. Companies use internal networks to transmit information between employees, devices, and servers. This constant stream of information fuels business in the modern age of data. By providing a continuous overhead view of all network functionality, and by providing details of any operational faltering, network monitoring software keeps businesses running smoothly.
Key Benefits of Network Monitoring Software
- Detect network performance incidents — Know exactly what’s happening on your network at any time.
- Reduce network downtime — Notice trends that lead to downtime before downtime occurs, and drive off potential issues more easily. Also, easily track where problems occur and resolve issues more quickly.
- Diagnose and resolve network incidents — Identify exactly where problems are occurring and create targeted solutions for those issues.
- Manage network-related inventory — See and keep track of every device on your network — mobile phones, laptops, servers, and more.
- Document and record historical incidents — Audit your incidents, find trends, and create informed plans for future action.
Why Use Network Monitoring Software?
Network monitoring solutions are built to keep your company’s network running optimally. When issues occur, alerts should be able to notify what is causing the failure and offer potential solutions. This helps your network teams stay on top of issues, and it can even assist in taking preventative action towards future issues like network overload or lag.
Network monitoring tools tend to be diverse but offer similar core functions. When searching for an appropriate network monitoring solution for your company, these are some considerations to keep in mind when purchasing:
Issue resolution process — When picking a solution, you should know your existing incident processes, as well as what your ideal processes would be. Make sure your in-house team has the skills and experience necessary to tackle the task. You should consider integrations for communication tools and task management software as well, as these are both crucial to issue management. Building out your ideal process will help to narrow products by comparing their features with your needs.
Customization needs — Customization plays a big role in facilitating your ideal incident management processes. You may want to set up custom alerts or incident routing standards. Other custom configurations and add-ons, such as automated ticket creation, should be considered. Make sure any tool you hope to integrate also has compatibility with the products you’re considering. There are a lot of quirks and custom features you can add to many tools if you’re not building a proprietary network monitoring solution, so keep in mind your highest priorities.
Product integration needs — Integrations and add-ons relate to customization but also add a level of functionality most customizations can’t. Commonly integrated products may include continuous delivery tools, application servers, or container management solutions. Additional tools can streamline processes, improve analysis, and add capabilities like data visualization. You should keep your existing integrations in mind but also consider new tools to increase security and performance.
Who Uses Network Monitoring Software?
Network monitoring software is going to be utilized almost exclusively by a business’ internal network and IT teams. Both of these teams will be able to use network monitoring to verify all company devices are connecting optimally and ensure that daily workflow will not be disrupted by unforeseen blips or outages.
Kinds of Network Monitoring Software
Proprietary vs. Purchased — Before looking into network monitoring solutions, consider the networking, IT, and development resources at your company’s disposal. It may be possible to use in-house or third-party services to build a custom network monitoring solution. If those resources aren’t available, buying a monitoring tool is likely your best bet. Be sure your in-house teams are capable of maintaining support and have experience managing network components. There may be consulting services available to help your network teams pick up a new monitoring system as well. If neither of these are the case, many IT outsourcing services can manage networks for you, and IT consulting services can assist you in diagnosing your needs.
Network Monitoring Software Features
Continuous network monitoring — Your network should be up and running whenever your business is. Network monitoring software helps keep your network from faltering when your company is both on and off the clock.
Network performance baselines — Every network needs a performance standard. Utilize network monitoring software to set the baseline your network should be adhering to.
Performance alerting — Should your network stray from its performance baseline, network monitoring software alerts administrators so that any troubleshooting or repair can commence immediately.
Suggest solutions and improvements — Whether usage loads need better distribution or a particular network weak point arises, network monitoring software should be able to highlight stressed or nonfunctional network points and provide solutions towards alleviating those issues.
Performance visualizations — Sifting through hundreds of lines of data is a waste of time when looking for overall metrics or key points. Network monitoring solutions include data visualization options so that the data you need is big, bold, and exactly what you’re looking for.
Potential Issues with Network Monitoring Software
Network scale — Monitoring options should quickly narrow depending on the status of your network’s size. Small-business tools can be easy to use but may not fit your projected growth needs. Enterprise solutions are not necessary for smaller networks but can provide intensive support and vast monitoring for larger, more complex networks. Many cloud offerings, though, can help small businesses scale their networks as they grow while keeping their information safe and downtime at a minimum. Be sure, when investing in a network monitoring solution, that the solution meets your company’s scale needs, both for now and in the near future.
Infrastructure location — Technology infrastructure is a key consideration for network monitoring. On-premise servers and related solutions provide greater security but can be more expensive and resource-intensive. Remote networks reduce overhead but take your hands off the network. Cloud-based network monitoring solutions are often less complex but become less customizable. On-premise networks give you more direct access to logs and incident details. All of these trade-offs should be strongly considered when differentiating between products.
Which network monitoring app is best for medium-sized enterprises?
For medium-sized enterprises, in order to find the best networking monitoring app depends on your business goals. Some interesting features to look at are: AIOps Platforms, Application Performance Monitoring, Cloud Infrastructure Monitoring, and Log Monitoring. Here are a few popular options for you:
- Entuity provides comprehensive real-time visibility and actionable insights into your on-prem, cloud, and hybrid infrastructures. It's designed to help organizations proactively monitor and optimize network performance, enhance security, and maximize resource efficiency. Entuity is tailored for enterprises aiming to streamline operations and ensure seamless connectivity.
- BackBox focuses on network device automation and security, making it suitable for complex multi-vendor environments. It offers over 3,000 pre-built automation tools, reducing manual errors and improving operational efficiency. It's equipped to handle challenges like rapid vulnerability patching and streamlining network configuration management.
What's the leading network monitoring software for business use?
There isn't a "one size fits all" leading software for networking monitoring software. However, here are some popular choices that businesses use for network monitoring solutions:
- LogicMonitor - Offers hybrid observability powered by AI, providing operational visibility and predictability across on-prem and multi-cloud environments.
- Dynatrace - Provides unified platform for broad and deep observability, enabling cloud operations automation and secure software delivery.
- Datadog - A comprehensive monitoring, security, and analytics platform for infrastructure, application performance, and log management.
- ThousandEyes - Empowers organizations with visibility across every network, enabling proactive issues detection and resolution.
- Microsoft System Center - Delivers unified management for cloud platforms and IT operations, facilitating fast time-to-value.
