Network Monitoring: Understanding Its Importance and Different Types

Network Monitoring

With technology being an integral part of our everyday lives, businesses have made it a top priority to maintain their IT network infrastructure. To achieve this, network monitoring is a crucial tool in ensuring seamless operations and preventing system downtime. Network monitoring refers to the process of observing computing systems for any failures or performance issues. In this article, we will delve deep into the importance of network monitoring, the different types, and their functions.

1. What is network monitoring?

Network monitoring involves using tools to observe, track, and manage the performance and availability of different elements of an IT system. These include switches, servers, routers, and other network devices. The goal of network monitoring is to ensure that the IT system is always running smoothly and is functioning optimally. The monitoring tools use parameters like ping and Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) to gauge the latency and performance of the network.

2. Types of Network Monitoring

There are different types of network monitoring, each with its unique advantages. Here are some of the most common types:

a) Packet sniffing – This type of monitoring collects network traffic data, which can be useful in investigations of system security issues or in identifying the root cause of network performance problems.

b) Flow-based monitoring – This type uses standards such as NetFlow/ sFlow, which provides network administrators with a high level of traffic visibility and detailed traffic analysis.

c) SNMP-based monitoring – Simple Network Runtime Protocol (SNMP) monitors allow network administrators to manage and monitor network devices as well as hardware and software performance.

3. What is the purpose of network monitoring?

Network monitoring has many vital purposes, one of which is that it detects any issues with your network before they become critical problems. It ensures that an IT system is operating at the most efficient levels possible. Network monitoring alerts network administrators in real-time to network outages, slow traffic, or other system issues. This information is important in resolving network issues promptly, preventing extensive downtime that can disrupt business operations.

4. Benefits of network monitoring

Network monitoring is essential in ensuring continuous, reliable, and efficient network performance. Here are some of the benefits of network monitoring;

a) Improving network security – By monitoring network logs and analyzing network traffic, network administrators can identify any unusual activity and take preventive steps to improve network security.

b) Enhancing network performance – Network monitoring systems can detect slow connections or bandwidth limitations that can cause network congestion and take necessary measures to ensure optimal network performance.