Best Network Monitoring Software

Network Monitoring Software Guide

Network monitoring software help IT teams and network administrators manage, monitor, and track the health, performance, and maintenance of a network. A reliable and functioning network is crucial for the vast majority of technology companies, and even organizations that aren't directly focused on technology. If you can't rely on your network, then running a successful business becomes very difficult. Network monitoring tools and software facilitate the upkeep and reliability of a network.

Network monitoring software is an important tool for any business, as it allows organizations to monitor the performance of their network devices, including computers, servers, routers, switches and other hardware. Network monitoring software can provide real-time alerts for potential issues such as unresponsiveness or availability problems. It can also be used to collect performance data related to latency, throughput and packet loss. This data can then be used to create reports and alert administrators when a threshold value has been exceeded.

The types of network monitoring software available include both free open source applications and paid-for enterprise-level solutions. Free open source network management systems tend to lack advanced features such as automated patching and logging but may still be suitable for small businesses with limited IT staff or resources. Enterprise-level solutions may offer more robust functionality but require larger investments in terms of both time and money.

Network monitoring software typically consists of a server component that runs on the local area network (LAN) as well as an agent program which is installed on each monitored device individually. The server component gathers information from the agents and stores it in a database or log file. The software may also include a graphical user interface (GUI) to make it easier to view the data and create reports.

Network monitoring software can be used to detect potential security issues such as unauthorized access attempts, malicious traffic and suspicious activity on the network. It can also be used to detect hardware failures, identify bandwidth usage problems, measure network performance and locate bandwidth bottlenecks. Additionally, the software can provide administrators with detailed reports on usage patterns and trends which may help identify areas for improvement or optimization.

In summary, network monitoring software is an important tool for organizations that need to monitor the performance of their networks. It allows administrators to detect potential security issues, measure performance levels and generate detailed reports on usage patterns and trends. Enterprises should consider investing in an enterprise-level solution if they require more advanced features such as automated patching and logging. Free open source network management systems may be suitable for small businesses with limited IT staff or resources.

Network Monitoring Uses

Network monitoring services were designed to help organizations to keep their networks and data centers functioning and healthy, at all times. They help to analyze data, monitor incoming and outgoing data, and detect any threats to an organizations network by examining both devices and applications in real time. They do it in real time, because it helps organizations get warning alerts faster so they can respond to threats promptly. Therefore, organizations need to have effective IT departments to help manage these services.

In the past, networks that were unreliable would result in things like delayed emails and other things that made things easier to workaround. However, in today's business world this is different. Having a data network that is unreliable can cause an organization's operations to come to a standstill. For example, if network systems can get IP addresses through DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol), then their system will be unable to communicate with other organization systems. Likewise, organizations' systems will be unable to connect to the internet via any system if there is a function in a DNS (Domain Name System).

It is important to know how to manage an organization's bandwidth, because this will allow all users on the network to meet their full productivity. To help with this, there are different network monitoring systems at the top of the industry below that will help with these types of situations. The majority of them are cloud-based system, but all of them will help to keep an organization's network safe and their users securely connected.

Due to the critical nature of these services, a few of them can cross over into the infrastructure category. At this point, DNS can become even more of an issue for management infrastructure issues. Typically, a network administrator would be responsible for managing DHCP services.

First introduced back in 1998 by RFCs (Request for Comments) 1065, 1066, and 1067, SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) was established. Since then, SNMPv2 and SNVPv3 have replaced the original version, and this has made it capable of being adopted across several different platforms. Networking is what SNMP is usually associated with. OSes (Operating systems), like Microsoft Windows, can be configured so that they respond to SNMP commands. Those in charge should make sure that their network management tools will use SNMP efficiently to accomplish the tasks they are needed for.

Anyone that needs to know and understand what is happening on a network has to understand network flows. Cisco routers were the first routers that introduced NetFlow, which allowed analyzation of IP network traffic that was exiting and entering through a particular interface. NetFlow sends data to a point of collect, which is usually a database system, and this makes it easier analyses that are query based. Most switch manufacturers and sampling tools, like sFlow, then follow the same path. Hewlett-Packard, Arista Networks, and Brocade Communications Systems are a few the largest networking vendors that have natural sFlow support. Companies can find sFlow descriptions under RFC 3176.

Features of Network Monitoring Software

• IPAM (IP Address Management): IP address management is a vital feature for most large corporations. It allows them to keep track of static IP addresses assigned, plus various DHCP pools, that wouldn't be able to managed adequately with the use of a manual system. Since a single person is usually in charge of handling both of those functions, it only makes sense that organization would integrate an IPAM with their network management tool for accuracy and efficiency.
• SDN (Software-Defined Networking): Software-defined networking is needed, but it takes a technologist or vendor to help reduce the confusion it causes. Basically, SDN is a term that describes the forwarding plane and how the network control plane is functionally separated. It is only through these two things that configuring optimum data paths become possible. However, SDN is only found in the top level of performance switches in network monitoring systems.
• Network Traffic Analysis: Network monitoring software provides in-depth analysis of network traffic, giving visibility into the amount, type, and direction of traffic that passes through a network. It can also identify anomalies in traffic patterns and alert administrators before more serious issues arise.
• Bandwidth Utilization: Network monitoring software allows for timely detection of bandwidth utilization to ensure optimal performance on the network. This feature helps identify possible bottlenecks or excessive usage that may affect other users or applications on the network.
• Performance Monitoring: With this feature, administrators can measure service availability, delay, jitter, and throughput of the network and individual devices. This helps to identify problems that can affect the performance of applications.
• Protocol Analysis: Protocol analysis allows administrators to investigate communication patterns between applications, networks, and ports to reveal issues such as security vulnerabilities or congestion points.
• Network Discovery: Network monitoring software discovers connected devices on a network and shows their configurations. It also detects unauthorized access or changes in device connections which helps facilitate preventive measures for maintaining a secure network environment.
• Event Logging & Notification: Event logging allows for detailed tracking of network events in order to diagnose errors, detect suspicious activity and review trends over time. Notifications can be configured so administrators receive immediate alerts when certain thresholds are met or exceeded.

Types of Network Monitoring Software

• Network Traffic Monitoring Software: This type of software monitors the volume of data traffic passing through the network. It provides an overview of usage patterns and helps identify potential bottlenecks.
• Network Performance Monitoring Software: This type of software monitors how efficiently the network is functioning, including access speeds, packet loss, round-trip-times (RTT), and other key performance metrics.
• Bandwidth Monitoring Software: This type of software can measure the amount of bandwidth used by various applications or devices on a network in real time.
• Security Auditing Software: This type of software can detect vulnerabilities and unauthorized access attempts, helping to protect a business’s sensitive information.
• Network Fault Detection & Diagnosis Software: This type of software identifies problems that may negatively affect performance or reliability on the network, allowing IT teams to address them quickly.
• Protocol Analysis & Morphology Software: This type of software can analyze common protocols such as IP, TCP, UDP and HTTP to identify any issues affecting performance or security in communications between two systems.
• Network Discovery & Mapping Software: This type of software scans the network to identify all systems, services and users and creates a map of the network.
• Availability & Uptime Monitoring Software: This type of software can track the availability and performance of all devices on a network in real time, alerting IT teams when any device is down or experiencing slow performance.
• WiFi Monitoring Software: This type of software monitors the performance of wireless networks, providing detailed information on signal strength and identifying any potential issues.

Advantages of Network Monitoring Software

1. Increased Efficiency: Network monitoring software provides high-level visibility into an organization's networks, helping to identify network anomalies and quickly troubleshoot performance issues. This helps to increase efficiency and optimize any problems that may occur.
2. Proactive Maintenance: The software also allows administrators to detect potential problems while they are still in their early stages, allowing them to take proactive steps before more serious issues arise and potentially cause downtime or data loss.
3. Data Analysis Capabilities: With the right software, IT teams can collect data on virtually every aspect of their networks and use it for deep analysis and reporting. This means that administrators can better understand how the network is being used, identify areas for improvement, and ensure the highest levels of performance.
4. Security Benefits: Network monitoring software also helps organizations protect their networks from threats by providing real-time alerts when suspicious activity is detected. This type of system can alert administrators if a particular user or device appears to be exhibiting unusual behavior, enabling them to take quick action before malicious actors cause additional damage or disruption.
5. Cost Savings: By reducing the need for manual maintenance tasks and providing visibility into performance issues that would otherwise go unnoticed, network monitoring software can help businesses realize significant cost savings over time.

Enterprise vs. Small Business Network Monitoring

Networking monitoring software needs are greatly impacted by the size of an organization. Generally, most features are divided into solutions that are most beneficial for larger enterprises and small businesses separately:

• Large Enterprises - Larger enterprises generally have different server locations, and they could be in different geographical locations, as well. Therefore, they need features that are more advanced. Due to the size of their servers and other issues, their administrators need more advanced tools in order to properly diagnose and prevent network related issues.
• Small Businesses - Since smaller businesses generally only have one server location, they do not need overall advanced features to keep their network running smoothly. The two most important things to small businesses is to be alerted to any potential issue and making sure that their system is maintained properly.

Who Uses Network Monitoring Software?

• Business Owners: Business owners use network monitoring software to ensure the uninterrupted, secure operation of their networks. They can keep an eye on the performance of their networks, detect any potential problems, and take action to fix them quickly.
• System Administrators: System administrators use network monitoring software to manage and administer networks by setting up user accounts, controlling access rights, and configuring various settings.
• Network Engineers: Network engineers rely on network monitoring software to help them troubleshoot networking issues quickly, diagnose any underlying problems in a timely manner, and improve overall network security.
• Security Experts: Security experts use network monitoring software to identify malicious activities within the network or on peripheral systems connected to the network. They can also detect suspicious activities aimed at breaking into the user’s system as early as possible.
• Home Users: Home users use network monitoring software to ensure that their home networks are operating smoothly and securely. It provides them with detailed insights into all devices connected to their home networks and allows them to easily troubleshoot any connectivity issue that may arise in future.
• Cloud Service Providers: Cloud service providers depend heavily upon network monitoring solutions for managing cloud-based applications efficiently by detecting any anomalies in real-time from integrated dashboards. This helps them deliver a seamless customer experience while saving time and money.
• Network Operators: Network operators use network monitoring software to ensure the uptime and performance of their networks. This helps them detect potential issues quickly and take focused measures to troubleshoot them before they cause any service disruption.
• Network Architects: Network architects use network monitoring solutions to build and deploy effective, secure, and reliable networks. This helps them save time and costs associated with setting up new networks as well as maintain existing ones.
• Network Planners: Network planners use network monitoring software to plan out their networks efficiently with the right set of devices, protocols, and applications. This helps them make well-informed decisions while reducing costs and improving the overall performance of the network.
• Network Auditors: Network auditors use network monitoring software to analyze and audit the performance of their networks. This helps them detect any security issues, vulnerabilities, or anomalies in the system and take corrective action accordingly.

How Much Does Network Monitoring Software Cost?

The cost of network monitoring software varies greatly depending on the features and capabilities of the software you are looking for. Generally, network monitoring software can range anywhere from free to hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Free versions typically offer basic functions such as alerting when a problem occurs, while more expensive versions may have advanced features like automated recognition and resolution of issues plus detailed reporting and analytics.

For those just starting out, it is possible to find free or low-cost options that provide essential functions like performance feedback and alerts for critical components. For small businesses and organizations with limited resources, these affordable solutions will help them keep their networks running smoothly.

For larger companies or those requiring more advanced features such as enhanced security, detailed analysis, custom automation tools - pricing can go up significantly. High-end enterprise solutions can cost anywhere from several hundred to tens of thousands of dollars per year depending on the level of customization and scalability needed.

Ultimately it comes down to what your individual needs are and how much you're willing to invest in a comprehensive solution that meets those needs.

What Integrates With Network Monitoring Software?

Network monitoring software can integrate with a variety of different types of software, including analytical tools, performance management and logging applications, fault analysis and management programs, network management systems, network security products, proxy servers, and infrastructure automation systems. Analytical tools enable the user to measure trends in data collected from multiple sources over time. Performance management and logging applications allow for the collection of performance data related to the behavior of various devices on a given network. Fault analysis and management programs are designed to identify faults in a system's hardware or software that could cause it to malfunction. Network management systems provide centralized control over all aspects of the network while also providing detailed reporting capabilities. Network security products are used to protect networks from attacks by malicious actors or viruses. Proxy servers offer an intermediary between clients and web-based services, allowing users to access external services through an intermediate server that is able to modify requests as needed by protecting information such as passwords or other confidential data while still enabling requests to be processed efficiently. Finally, infrastructure automation systems automate various tasks associated with keeping networks running optimally such as making sure servers are properly configured or enforcing policies across the network in order to ensure compliance with laws or regulations.

Key Considerations for Network Monitoring Software

It is important to know what requirements you need from a network monitoring system, and you should prioritize them on importance. This will allow you to find the right network monitoring system for your organization's need. There are a few parameters that have been set to help an organization identify which solution will work best:

• Customization in specific priorities and processes - Every organization is different, and their systems are equally different. Therefore, it is important that the solution chosen is customizable to provides alerts and how those alerts are processed. As a buyer, an organization needs to know exactly what they want to monitor and if they want that information sent as a report, to a support team, or both options.
• Scope of the System - In the end, the system that you choose should be able to handle any and all of the variations that your process will require. A couple of the things that it should be able to handle are monitoring multiple geographical locations, handle different virtual environments, and process specific network devices.
• Automated discovery of components - Automation becomes increasingly important the larger an organization is. This is due to the fact they have multiple servers and systems, and everything might not be monitored properly. Since it's not always possible to send a technical team to see about every issue, the automation will allow them to prioritize things.
• After-hours support model - Organizations are not open all the time, and therefore, it is important that the system that is purchased will actually benefit the company and provide all of the after-hour support that it needs.
• Scalability - Organizations need to make sure that the system they choose will be able to grow as they do to avoid problems in the future.
• Location of Support Contacts - It is important to know where the contacts for an organization chosen network monitoring solution are. This will help to judge their overall support service for an organization.
• Availability of Internal IT staff - A network monitoring system will only run as smoothly as it can be monitored and the work it generates can be handles. The internal IT team need to know what they are required to do under different circumstances.
• Clearly defined SLA (service level agreements) - This is extremely important before choosing any given network monitoring system. It is imperative that an organization understand each option for timing and the escalation process. The SLA can be negotiated to provide what the organization specifically needs.

Network Monitoring Software Trends

1. Automation: Network monitoring software has become increasingly automated, allowing users to quickly and easily detect any problems with their networks. Automated processes help reduce the need for manual intervention and allow for faster identification of issues.
2. Analytics: Network monitoring software can quickly analyze data and help identify trends in network performance. This allows administrators to make more informed decisions about their networks and ensure they are running optimally.
3. Scalability: As companies’ networks have grown more complex, network monitoring software has had to become scalable to meet the demands of large-scale networks. Software that is written to be modular and extensible helps provide scalability as the needs of a network grow.
4. Visibility: As networks have become more complex, visibility has become increasingly important for network administrators. Monitoring software provides real-time visibility into the performance of a network and allows administrators to quickly identify any potential issues before they become serious problems.
5. Security: Network monitoring software can also help secure a company’s network by providing real-time alerts when malicious activity is detected on the network or unauthorized users attempt to access sensitive data or systems. This helps ensure that networks remain secure from external threats.
6. Ease of Use: Network monitoring software has become much easier to use over the years, allowing even non-technical users to set up and configure their networks for optimal performance. This has made it easier for companies to quickly identify any potential problems and take corrective action.

How to Choose the Right Network Monitoring Software

1. Identify Your Needs: Before selecting a monitoring tool, you should first identify what you want it to monitor and why. Examine your current network setup and determine which areas of the system need to be monitored, such as traffic flow, response time, or performance metrics. Knowing your requirements will make it easier to narrow down potential options.
2. Research Tools: Once you've identified your needs, do some research on the available network monitoring tools in the market that fit within your budget and technical requirements. Look for customer reviews online and talk to industry experts about their experiences with different solutions. This will help you gain an understanding of how well each product performs compared to its competitors. Compare network monitoring software using the tools on this page and sort by user reviews, pricing, features, integrations, deployment options, operating system, and more.
3. Test Drive: After narrowing down potential solutions, try a trial version of each one before making a purchase decision. This gives you an opportunity to see how easy they are to use and whether they meet all of your expectations in terms of features and performance capabilities before investing any money into them.
4. Implement & Monitor: After selecting a network monitoring tool, implement it in your environment and closely monitor its results over time. Make sure there are no unexpected or unexplained issues occurring while using it so that any unforeseen problems can be quickly addressed before they become bigger issues later on.