Network monitoring consists of various tools and techniques to monitor network performance, such as packet loss, latency, bandwidth utilization, and other performance metrics. It comprises various categories divided according to the particular performance metric. Such performance metrics are crucial for understanding the health of a network, as they allow IT professionals to gain visibility into the current state of their networks and make informed decisions on how to improve them. So, do you know what the different network monitoring categories are?

What are the categories of network monitoring?

Network monitoring can take many forms, depending on what needs to be examined. As network architectures become more software-centric and decentralized from a hybrid and multi-cloud perspective, network teams might find it confusing to understand the various network monitoring methods and tools. Network monitoring is classified depending on the kind of data it collects, the technique used to collect it, and the method of analysis. Here are the four main categories of network monitoring.

1. Availability Monitoring 

Availability monitoring involves checking the performance of a system over time to ensure it is up and running. Some availability monitoring tools do more than solely monitor whether a device is entirely online or offline. They can measure the time it takes for a service to respond and alert administrators if the system does not meet their performance standards. This kind of monitoring is essential for systems that have to work quickly and reliably all the time, like financial services or health care.

Therefore, getting excellent remote monitoring service is essential for any company that relies on the system’s performance for the success of their business. By giving businesses real-time metrics and alerts about how their systems are doing, remote monitoring services help them find and fix problems quickly, preventing any outages.

2. Configuration Monitoring 

Configuration monitoring involves regularly checking to ensure that all settings, such as hardware and software, are configured correctly. This helps companies ensure that their systems are up-to-date and that any problems related to misconfigurations are quickly identified and fixed. Additionally, through remote network monitoring services, companies can now keep track of their network assets and see any changes made to the system. By using configuration monitoring remotely, companies can lower their risk of cyberattacks and keep their networks as safe as possible. You can see here some other remote network monitoring services you can get.

3. Performance Monitoring

Performance monitoring focuses on network utilization, latency, and suboptimal path selection. Companies can use performance monitoring to ensure that their networks run optimally and that all the necessary resources are used most efficiently. Performance monitoring can provide insight into the network’s performance and alert IT personnel of potential problems. This can be especially important in large organizations that rely on their networks to handle high levels of data and maintain communications between offices and remote locations.

4. Cloud Infrastructure Monitoring

Cloud infrastructure monitoring is essential to ensuring that an organization’s cloud environment is secure, reliable, and efficient. It can provide organizations with real-time insights into the performance of their cloud environment, enabling them to quickly identify and address any potential issues before they significantly impact operations. By utilizing cloud infrastructure monitoring, organizations can understand how their systems are performing and identify potential areas for improvement. This can give organizations greater control over their cloud environment and assurance that their data and applications are safe and secure.