Network Performance Is Crucial to Business Success

Network monitoring entails the oversight and management of your network by an external entity, aiming to enhance network performance and security, while allowing you to concentrate on important business prerogatives.

1. Establish Clear Monitoring Goals: Outline your monitoring objectives, detailing what aspects of your network (like performance, security, or compliance) you aim to track and why.
2. Select Appropriate Monitoring Solutions: Choose tools that align with your monitoring needs. For network performance, options like SolarWinds, PRTG, or Nagios work well, while Snort or Wireshark might suit security monitoring.
3. Monitor All Vital Network Components: Keep an eye on critical devices—routers, switches, servers, endpoints, and firewalls. It’s essential to monitor key network services and applications too.
4. Set Monitoring Thresholds: Configure thresholds that trigger alerts when specific conditions are met, such as surpassing certain bandwidth limits.
5. Real-Time Monitoring: Conduct real-time network monitoring to catch and resolve issues promptly, preventing significant disruptions.
6. Analyze Network Data: Regularly analyze data to spot trends or patterns that might signal potential issues. Use this insight to proactively address problems before they escalate.
7. Document Network Details: Maintain records of your network topology, monitoring protocols, and configurations. This documentation aids swift troubleshooting during incidents.
8. Review and Update Monitoring Policies: Regularly reassess and update monitoring policies to ensure they remain relevant to your evolving organizational needs and objectives.

If your workload is packed with various tasks, network monitoring by a third-party provider ensures your network’s performance is supervised, freeing you to concentrate on essential business duties.