Defending the servers and online networks that run a company’s business is often a top priority for every IT professional, no matter the size of their operation. Network and server monitoring tools are a crucial piece of every IT professional’s arsenal as they protect the lifeblood of any company’s technology department, the network. From analyzing traffic on your network in real-time, to monitoring and alerting the administrator of any potential threats, obtain the right monitoring tool can be the difference between an efficiently ran business and potential chaos from undetected threats of many kinds. Today we take a look at some features to key in on when looking for the best monitoring tool to fit you and your company’s needs, no matter the scale.
Monitoring tools with intuitive and easy to navigate user interfaces can make a world of difference when learning a new software or tool for the first time. Specifically a tool with a web based user interface can be particularly useful as you can access the features you need from any computer allowing for a convenience not seen with application only based software.
Another key feature you will certainly want to look for is the ability to track and ensure your critical operating systems and servers are always running as they should be , as well as the plethora of applications you use regularly. Many monitoring tools in today’s tech landscape offer plug-ins and add-ons that will allow you to customize the tool to appropriately fit your exact set up. Some add-ons to consider for better analyzing and tracking your network include graphs, load distribution, visualization charts and SQL support. Another option you may want to consider are add-ons that allow to connect to services such as HTTP and or FTP.
As you begin or continue your search for the best monitoring tools to fit your network, obtaining one that comes with a high level of detail when analyzing traffic, whether HTTP traffic or other, can prove to be beneficial. By having the most information possible, you can accurately determine which tests to perform and monitor requests and responses before they even reach the browser. Network monitoring tools with a web debugging tool can help to accomplish the aforementioned goals.
If you are an IT professional or administrator that works remotely and or are often on the go, finding a monitoring tool that can be used via smartphone or tablet application can be particularly useful and productive. Many monitoring tools in today’s tech landscape offer applications for both iOS and Android operating systems. Many of these apps can do everything the desktop version of the software can do which include but are not limited to alerting options, tracking network outages, specific node monitoring and monitoring/tracking of your network as a whole. With a business world that is increasingly on the go and working more and more outside of the office, many find this particular feature hard to without.
An often overlooked yet important aspect you may want to look for in the monitoring tools you look at is the ability to easily track bandwidth usage and the saturation involved down the port. This will allow you to pinpoint the users on your networking using the most bandwidth and slowing down your entire network. By adding this feature to your tool’s dashboard, you can determine slowdowns in your network quickly and take the necessary actions in a more timely fashion. You can also set up alerts to when a particular user or set of users reach a certain bandwidth level.
When looking at monitoring tools the above features are just a few things you will want to look for. Many software tools offer free trial versions of their software to just get a feel, which can be very useful.