Why Network Monitoring? |
- What can a modern professional network management system do for you?
Benefits
The BasicsImagine yourself lost in a forest with limited knowledge of how to get out. Which way is the shortest? Are there any mountains in the way? Are there lakes you might need to cross? What is the quickest way out? Climb up a tall tree and have a look around! A modern Network Management System gives you a very tall tree to climb, giving you a perfect overview of the terrain. And it will be there 24x7 and fully automated. It will not only find the quickest and best way out – it will email or SMS you the exact route for how to get out.Today’s IT systems are very similar to a wild uncontrolled and fast growing forest. New technologies such as virtualisation, Voice over IP, and remote desktops in combination with new demands for Service Level Agreements, are turning IT into IS (Information Services) and general higher management IT effectiveness demands. An efficient Network Monitoring System does not only give you the map over the terrain, sending you messages when something has gone wrong, it also let you detect dangers in time, makeing it possible to proactively fix small problems before they become seriuous and thus minimize the risk for costly down time. All this with limited IT resources both in terms of money and IT staff, is the basis for why easy-to-use and properly functional Network Management Systems are absolutely essential to any organization relying on IT to function properly. Top 5 financial and practical reasons:
80% of all downtime consists of finding the actual problem. This is a fact. When something happens in your IT systems that effects your IT systems negatively, the most important and cost beneficial solution is to directly identify the core problem and then fix it. This sounds like basics but you need to have a direct overview of the whole value chain (see picture below). Where in the value chain is the problem and what is causing it?
2. Better data for making correct change management priorities
Key questions are always present at decision time, e.g.:
A good Network Management System will give you clear guidance and answers making your decisions easier and more well documented. The reports and hard numbers also makes it easier to communicate with staff and other interest groups on how and why a certain decision was made or need to be made. 3. Documentation and long-term quality assurance of your IT systems
A never ending challenge for all IT departments is to assure consistent and accurate documentation on Moves, Adds, Changes and Deletes (MACD). In an IT project there is often many involved parties, working at the same time, internal and external IT, project managers, system designers etc. All need to be involved in assuring the quality of your IT system. However – people change jobs, get sick, go on holiday etc – it is all part of the never ending challange of change management. These challenges become easier with a NMS in place:
A good Network Management System provides central documentation on all system changes in a single view. It also produces automated reports showing before/after data and provides easy SLA follow up. 4. Professional and easy to understand reports Many opinions and decisions related to IT is based on feelings rather than facts. Even though few things in life are as easy to measure as IT. This lead to inneficiency as valuable time is wasted and higher risk for bad decision as a consequence. Being able to fast produce professional, automated and easy-to-understand reports greatly reduces this waste of time and can instead improve discussions, and transform opinions into valuable input from end users and experts. The reports can then be used by management to make the correct investment decisions. To the right is an example of an SLA report for a Toshiba printer.5. Turning Information Technology (IT) to Information Services (IS)Many IT departments are facing the challenge to transform the department to a model where IT is more viewed as a service to the business rather than maintaining and operating new and old technology. This introduces the need of both internal and external service monitoring for measurement and follow-up. A service can consist of a mix of different technologies, combined to deliver a certain service, for example working e-mail. It can and often does include all the elements of the traditional IT system:
They all come together to deliver an individual service for a particular business need. This needs to be monitored and measured so that management can follow-up investments. Reports of availability, performance and quality need to be generated for proper follow-up and analysis.
SummaryA modern, easy-to-use Network Management System greatly reduces direct costs for unwanted downtime. It further assures effective use of limited IT expert resources. It reduces the needs for “fire fighting” of problems. It helps in priorities and investments, change management and long term documentation.
op5 supplies a state-of-the-art and easy-to-use complete product in the shape of op5 Network Management Suite. It consists of three individual components that can be installed individually or combined for enhanced functionality. Key features are:
For further information please contact us on +46-8-58 83 01 00 or info@op5.com
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