Due to the increasing reliance of businesses on the internet and their technological assets, this has led to the further development of IT departments and the tools at their disposal. Some of the most helpful systems that IT departments have available include their monitoring software, allowing them to determine what’s working and what isn’t.
There are many different types of IT monitoring, and we’ve dedicated today’s guide to going over them in depth. Keep in mind that IT monitoring can also be referred to as infrastructure monitoring tools, so these terms will be used interchangeably throughout this guide.
Availability Monitoring
The first kind of monitoring software we’ll be discussing is availability monitoring, which is also known as system monitoring and management in some cases. This was one of the first monitors that were ever developed, and you’ll notice that it tends to have more advanced features than its counterpart systems.
This may also be referred to as server monitoring, but that’s a bit of a misnomer when you consider that this is a form of availability monitoring. This category of monitoring tools can also include infrastructure monitoring solution systems and PRTG network monitor tools.
Application Management
An application monitoring platform (AKA APM) can ensure that you keep track of and identify the root cause of issues using data before the customer base catches on to them. These tools are designed to give you the first chance at improving your product before anyone catches on to the unexpected issues that popped up.
Some of the best monitor systems will allow you to fix those issues with the help of performance metrics. In these cases, automated systems will be able to fix the performance problems that your enterprise is facing without the need for human management or oversight, though this is still a relatively recent innovation.
There is also a special category known as a server and application monitor (SAM).
Web Performance Infrastructure Monitoring Tools
Web performance monitoring is technically a form of availability monitoring, though it’s distinct enough to warrant its own spot on this list. IT monitoring tools of this type will allow you to keep track of how well or consistently a web server is operating and it will alert you. Unlike application management, this monitor is typically used to ensure the proper operation of internal services, hardware, and devices.
Cloud-based infrastructure needs to be maintained by healthy servers, and this kind of monitor will allow you to fix issues before they become crippling. Something like a sudden server shutdown could set your business back immensely, and the right monitoring system can prevent that from happening.
Real User Monitoring
A real user monitoring solution tool is designed to perform performance monitoring on the interactions that actual users have with your website. By keeping an eye on factors like load times and how users interact with your product, you can determine how things operate in the real world instead of relying on simulations.
One thing to consider is that this kind of IT monitoring tool is only designed to give you retrospective insight on a root cause instead of allowing you to predict something occurring further down the line.
This is one of the main differences between real user monitoring and other systems providing monitoring capabilities. This form of automation can even manage and identify reviews, improving their visibility.
API Monitoring
If your company offers infrastructural APIs to your customers, then the most important metrics will likely be the ones that you get back from said API. By using data monitoring software and tools to ensure that your API is always running smoothly, you can get more loyal customers.
By taking a look at the direct actions of an API that you provide to a third-party client, you’ll be able to ensure that you have the maximum amount of uptime. In some cases, these systems are automated enough to deal with minor issues that you run into, but some will have to be solved manually.
Business Activity Monitoring
Business activity monitoring can help executives and other highly-placed managers determine how well their business is working. This kind of IT monitoring tool is less focused on the IT side of things and more focused on the immediate results that you’re getting out of your product.
If you’re working in the retail sector, you can get an idea of your business’s performance by looking at the number of sales you’re making compared to the past. This will also play a crucial role in capacity planning for businesses that sell their products and add ons through downloads.
Security Monitoring
If you want to protect your cloud data centers and servers, one of the best tools at your disposal is security software. These kinds of monitors will be tasked with ensuring that you don’t have to deal with any breaches and other issues related to your organization’s security.
The thing that most security infrastructure monitoring tools share with each other is that they’re as reliable as possible. If you want to get technical, we guess you could say that this is a form of network monitoring, but you’re just monitoring your network for different things.
