Network monitoring is the process of tracking, logging, and reporting on network events. It can be done in real-time or by using automated tools to monitor networks at different intervals. Network monitoring allows you to see what’s happening across your entire network so that it can be maintained efficiently.
Read on to learn more about what network monitoring is, how it can benefit your business, and how to begin using it.
What is It?
Network monitoring usually consists of a system that keeps track of the activity and health of a computer network. It usually covers everything from hardware monitoring, such as temperature and humidity sensors; to performance tracking, like bandwidth usage; all the way up to security compliance software.
Network Monitoring vs Network Management
While they both deal with networks, it’s important not to confuse network monitoring and management. Network management deals with the day-to-day running of a business’s networks by handling tasks like patching, updates, password resets, etc., while network monitoring is focused on keeping track of what actually happens across your entire infrastructure.
Network Monitoring Benefits
There are many benefits to using network monitor software. It allows you to see the traffic on your network in real-time so that any issues can be identified and resolved quickly. In addition, it lets you keep track of bandwidth usage across all devices connected to a network, which is important when managing how much data gets used by employees or customers.
Although there are many benefits associated with using this technology, that doesn’t mean it’s right for every business. In order to determine if this is something your company should be doing, ask yourself the following questions:
Do you need a single report of everything going on across all devices?
Is network security a concern?
Do you have remote offices or employees with their own internet access?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, it’s probably worth looking into network monitoring software.
Network Monitoring Tools
There are a number of different tools available for keeping track of your network usage. Some examples include:
Packet Sniffers – IT professionals use packet sniffer while maintaining networks. They allow you to see all the packets of data that are travelling across a network in real-time.
Network Monitoring Software – This type of software is used to track devices, bandwidth usage, and other performance metrics on a network. You organization can install this on computers, servers, or the cloud.
IP Address Management (IPAM) – This is a tool that helps you keep track of IP addresses and assign them to different devices on your network. It can be extremely helpful for companies who have lots of remote locations or use virtual machines, since it makes managing all those resources much easier.
Does My Business Need Network Monitoring?
Whether or not your business needs this depends on a few factors. If you answered yes to any of the questions posed in the previous section, then it’s probably worth looking into this technology. In addition, if security is a concern for you, this can help address that by keeping track of all traffic and identifying any unauthorized access attempts.
If you’re not sure if this is something your company should be doing, reach out to an IT professional for help. They can evaluate your infrastructure and recommend the right tools and solutions for you.
Conclusion
Network monitoring is a great way to keep track of activity on your network. All businesses should consider this type of technology.
Contact us at Telewire today to learn more about how network monitoring can help your business stay safe and productive.
