In today’s tech-dominated world, we can all agree that nothing is worse than getting a “network is down” call. More often than not, your internal IT team lacks the visibility they need to get ahead of performance issues, meaning you’re in the dark until a user or customer calls to complain.
The longer it takes to resolve, the more it costs you in staff time, lost productivity and end-user satisfaction.
The solution? 24/7 network monitoring.
Keeping tabs on all your critical network technology means you can spot and fix issues fast before they get worse.
Here are seven network monitoring benefits that can lighten your internal IT team’s load and make your life easier.
1. Network Monitoring Means You Stay Ahead of Outages
What typically causes IT outages? Configuration issues, environmental factors and human error can all contribute to the problem.
Monitoring your network is one of the most basic and simple ways to prevent these outages from happening in the first place, giving you the visibility you need to stay one step ahead of potential issues.
When you have live network performance data in a simple-to-read interface, the software helps you identify outages that could cause future bottlenecks.
2. You Fix Issues Faster
Time is money, and this is especially the case when your network is down. Monitoring your network makes problem-solving easier and faster for time-strapped IT professionals.
When you’re grappling with a configuration error or finding the source of an abnormal traffic fluctuation, this software helps you get to the bottom of issues efficiently. Live network maps point you to problem origins, and status windows give you performance metrics over time.
Want to go one step further? Consider network automation tools. You can identify problems via monitoring your network and fix them automatically, without having to bring in another person.
3. You Gain an Immediate ROI
Your IT teams face heavy workloads and increasingly complex projects regularly, frequently without having the time, staff or budget needed to complete them.
The right network monitoring tool or outsourced co-managed IT services can deliver immediate ROI. Staff can have time back in their day to work on more critical projects, without the need to manually dig into network performance.
Finding the source of issues cuts tedious troubleshooting time, and getting ahead of IT outages reduces the costs of outages to your organization.
It’s a win-win!
4. You Effectively Manage Growing, Changing Networks
Today’s IT environments are growing in size. The number of IoT-connected devices is projected to reach 30.9 billion by 2025, which is a much larger increase than the 13.8 billion expected for 2021 per a study done by Statista.
The reality is all of this equipment needs to be monitored continuously for major fluctuations and suspicious activity. Additionally, networks are growing in complexity.
With hybrid office environments and remote work becoming the norm, things are changing even faster than usual. Whether you’re dealing with cloud services, cyber security concerns or ensuring remote access, you need flexible, reliable tools to help you monitor all your IP assets and ensure smooth performance, especially during change.
5. You Proactively Identify Potential Security Threats
When your company doesn’t have the budget for intrusion detection software, but still wants the ultimate method to help protect against data breaches, monitoring your network can help secure your business-critical data.
The biggest benefit you get is an idea of what “normal” performance looks like for your business, making it easy to identify anything out of the ordinary — whether it comes in the form of a spike in traffic levels or locating an unfamiliar device that’s connected to your network.
By figuring out when an event occurred and on what device, you take a proactive approach to network security.
6. You Can Justify Equipment Upgrades
Going by your gut isn’t a great strategy to convince most bosses that a server needs upgrading. But, having a historic report on how that equipment has performed over the last 12 months creates a much more compelling argument.
Trends analysis helps you determine if your current tech can scale to meet company needs or if you need to invest in new technology.
7. You Can Report on SLAs (Service Life Agreements)
Keeping your promises on network availability is a top priority for IT consultants and managed service providers. With the ability to report on performance from your network monitoring efforts, you can more easily meet the requirements of SLAs and ensure the satisfaction of your customers.
How Merit Can Help
If you’re looking for a network monitoring solution, you’re in the right place. Talk with an expert to discover a responsive and relationship-focused IT service provider, rather than just another vendor.
