{"id":5820,"date":"2020-01-13T01:11:33","date_gmt":"2020-01-13T01:11:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.n-able.com\/?p=5820"},"modified":"2021-04-08T01:13:34","modified_gmt":"2021-04-08T00:13:34","slug":"data-deduplication","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.n-able.com\/fr\/blog\/data-deduplication","title":{"rendered":"IT Infrastructure Monitoring"},"content":{"rendered":"

IT infrastructure monitoring is the unsung hero of the modern workplace. It\u2019s a hero because it sustains our technology systems in ways that allow them to function continuously, reliably, and seamlessly. It\u2019s unsung because most employees don\u2019t notice it, so long as the technologies they rely on continue to work without interruption.<\/p>\n

However,\u00a0IT infrastructure monitoring<\/a>\u00a0is at the core of practice for IT experts and managed services providers (MSPs). So what is it? What does it accomplish? And, as all of our technologies continue to transform in new ways, what do we need to know about its emerging possibilities?<\/p>\n

Understanding IT Infrastructure Monitoring<\/b><\/h3>\n

In order to understand the term IT infrastructure monitoring, let\u2019s break it down into its constituent parts. \u201cIT infrastructure\u201d refers to the various components comprising any IT service. Think about your own office environment\u2014computers, printers, modems, networks, storage, and more. These are the physical and virtual elements of the IT ecosystem that many simply take for granted. Given their importance to everything we do in the modern workplace, any of these elements going offline can cause serious disruptions to business.<\/p>\n

IT infrastructure monitoring refers to the process of continuously collecting data related to the health of your IT system\u2014a process that can reveal problems both large and small. For MSPs, the routine tracking of this data allows them to correct minor problems before they grow into major ones. Of course, major problems can sometimes erupt without warning, in which case IT experts must monitor reactively to address them. In both cases, IT infrastructure monitoring is essential for ensuring the IT ecosystem continues to function with as little disruption as possible.<\/p>\n

Monitoring vs. Management<\/b><\/h3>\n

This begs the question of what differences exist, if any, between infrastructure monitoring and infrastructure management. The two phrases are often used interchangeably and assumed to be one and the same. However, they actually describe different processes that relate to each other in important ways.<\/p>\n

As indicated already, infrastructure monitoring is the collection of data concerning the computing system of a particular enterprise. Monitoring makes that data available to help identify problems. By contrast, infrastructure management involves analyzing data generated by infrastructure monitoring in order to locate, assess, and find resolutions to problems as they arise. Whereas infrastructure monitoring is conducted by a software tool, infrastructure management is conducted either by an IT expert or with machine algorithms. Clearly, both of these processes are critical to the productivity and profitability of your business. Both\u00a0monitoring and management<\/a>\u00a0contribute to the process by which IT experts identify and resolve problems before they affect end users.<\/p>\n

IT Infrastructure Monitoring Tools<\/b><\/h3>\n

Although it is possible to monitor a small network manually, this becomes cumbersome when it comes to larger networks. Most IT teams will therefore need to rely on infrastructure monitoring tools. Many such tools exist, so it is important to know what to look for. Several key features include:<\/p>\n