Use Cases and Key Benefits of Managed IT Infrastructure Monitoring
As organizations become increasingly reliant on cloud-based networks, they are tasked with syncing their business goals and services with their end-users’ experience. This requires providing consistent access and the optimization of IT infrastructure.
Accomplishing this sometimes-Herculean task calls for IT monitoring to ensure all the working parts — storage spaces, servers, operating systems and virtualized systems — support harmonious digital activities. And IT infrastructure monitoring is the brain of cloud-based architecture. That’s because it collects the information required to form a cohesive understanding of performance, access and efficiency.
With real-time knowledge about issues that can cause slowdowns or disrupt the user experience, firms that provide IT infrastructure monitoring can intervene and maximize the availability of services to customers.
Benefits of Managed IT Infrastructure Monitoring
Customers have little patience for disrupted business-to-business services. That’s one of the reasons the old fix-it-after-it-breaks reactive IT model has gone the way of the dinosaur. Companies are expected to honor their agreements with seamless services. Downtime, for even modest online service users, is something of a non-starter. This problem can be resolved through IT monitoring and organizations can enjoy the following benefits.
Proactive Issue Detection and Resolution
Using a proactive model, IT infrastructure monitoring involves hunting for anomalies, cybersecurity threats and emerging issues that can interrupt user access. By following network traffic closely, as well as other salient metrics, monitoring tools identify emerging bottlenecks. The data collected regarding these and other impediments helps IT teams address root causes.
Enhanced Performance and Availability
The purpose of IT infrastructure monitoring is not necessarily to only improve network efficiency. While some IT tasks focus on systems maintenance and security for the network, IT monitoring is more end-user focused. Its success or failure is based on the positive experience an organization’s clients receive.
Resource Optimization and Cost Savings
Comprehensive IT infrastructure monitoring helps reduce overhead costs, particularly those related to energy consumption. Although driving profits through end-user satisfaction remains a priority, hardware and software adjustments can be made to reduce electricity usage. Services providers see costs go down as they onboard new clients and expand the operation.
Use Case 1: Network Monitoring
Diligent network monitoring provides admins with actionable information regarding a system’s optimization. Decision-makers can use the data collected through tools that include monitoring software to make adjustments in real time. This, in turn, helps maintain a healthy network that achieves its potential.
Along with clear visibility, IT monitoring also delivers user traffic information that allows admins to make informed decisions about managing bandwidth. By closely observing traffic flows, allowances can be made to increase availability and scroll back network capacity during low traffic periods. Network traffic monitoring helps organizations manage resources on an as-needed basis.
Threat detection and mitigation are crucial to all digital operations because hackers breach networks and steal data indiscriminately. Part of the IT monitoring process involves identifying unusual activity and emerging threats. By unmasking hacking attempts early, cybercriminals and malware can be promptly expelled.
Use Case 2: Server Monitoring
Servers are a critical component of any online enterprise. Although “server monitoring” involves wide-reaching types of assets, its core value goes to increased visibility and real-time intelligence. The insights gained from monitoring server traffic help professionals arrive at sound decisions about key issues such as capacity planning, hardware and software management, as well as service availability.
With an eye toward the end-user experience, server monitoring helps ensure optimal uptime, network reliability, and disruption-free services. This aspect of IT infrastructure monitoring speaks to the day-to-day activities and best practices a company enlists to position the organization as an industry leader.
Use Case 3: Application Performance Monitoring
Customers rarely question whether they are receiving an appropriate return on investment for services unless they prove ineffective. But corporations sustain unexpected downtime, they begin to question whether the services are worthwhile.
Often referred to as “APM” by IT insiders, application performance management collects information that helps admins make critical decisions about software and hardware for the purposes of meeting performance expectations. This facet of IT infrastructure monitoring measures the performance of core applications so that admins can take decisive action when baseline expectations are not being met.
The benefits of this level of end-to-end visibility include enhanced application performance, advanced troubleshooting opportunities and the ability to proactively resolve potential network bottlenecks, among others. All the adjustments, upgrades and other corrective measures are quietly conducted in the background before customers experience setbacks.
Use Case 4: Cloud Infrastructure Monitoring
Given that the majority of businesses have largely abandoned on-site networks, cloud infrastructure monitoring has never been more important. This process of evaluating the well-being of cloud-based infrastructure requires specialized tools and expertise. When conducted on a consistent and high-level basis, cloud infrastructure monitoring delivers essential information about availability, performance and whether an environment possesses the determined cybersecurity to protect valuable and sensitive data.
By monitoring cloud resources and services, business professionals are presented with opportunities to make changes that impact their business’s bottom line. Reallocating resources in a more cost-effective fashion can help drive profitability while maintaining customer satisfaction. Just as IT infrastructure monitoring helps optimize accessibility and the end-user experience, key company stakeholders can maximize cost efficiency.
It’s also important to note that these IT monitoring practices support regulatory compliance across industries. The fact that networks, hardware, applications, cybersecurity and energy consumption are receiving vigilant oversight checks many data privacy and regulatory boxes. In many cases, the search for unusual user activity, anomalies and threat-hunting practices helps cloud-based operations meet or exceed government mandates.
Outsourcing IT Infrastructure Monitoring is Cost-Effective
The shortage of experienced, certified IT specialists and the high cost of onboarding these professionals led 93 percent of all Forbes Global 2000 corporations to outsource IT management. Worldwide spending could exceed 731 billion by year’s end because it’s cost-effective to hire experts whose sole focus is on optimizing cloud-based operations and protecting digital assets.
As these use cases and key benefits suggest, third-party managed IT infrastructure monitoring can help deliver the customer satisfaction and cybersecurity needed to succeed. Red River partners with organizations interested in maximizing their potential and exceeding cybersecurity compliance. Contact us to set up a consultation and let’s get the process started.
