Skip to main content
SolarWinds MSP
  • Login
  • Support
  • Partnerships
    • Partnerships Overview
    • Solution Provider Program
    • Technology Alliance Program
    • Distributor Program
SolarWinds MSP
  • Products
    • SolarWinds N-central Automate what you need. Tackle complex networks. Try this remote monitoring and management solution built to help maximize efficiency and scale.
    • SolarWinds RMM Start fast. Grow at your own pace. Try this powerful but simple remote monitoring and management solution.
    • SolarWinds EDR Defend against ransomware, zero-day attacks, and evolving online threats with Endpoint Detection and Response
    • SolarWinds Backup Manage data protection for servers, workstations applications, documents and Microsoft 365 from one SaaS dashboard.
    • Mail Protection & Archiving Protect users from email threats and downtime.
    • Password Management Easily adopt and demonstrate best practice password and documentation management workflows.
      • Passportal Demo
    • PSA & Ticketing Manage ticketing, reporting, and billing to increase helpdesk efficiency.
    • Remote Support Help support customers and their devices with remote support tools designed to be fast and powerful.
  • Solutions

    I'm looking for...

    • Security Solutions
    • Monitoring Solutions
    • Efficiency Solutions
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Webcasts & Events
    • Ask the N-central Experts
    • Daily Live Demos
    • RMM Foundations Training
    • Upcoming Events
    • Upcoming Webcasts
    • Resource Center
    • COVID-19 Resources
    • Resource Library
      • Case Studies
      • Product Information
      • eBooks
      • White Papers
      • Infographics
    • SolarWinds MSP Free Tools
    • GDPR Resource Center
    • Security Resource Center
    • MSP Institute Webinar Series
    • MSP Advice Project
  • About
    • Contact
    • Customer Success
    • Worldwide sales and support
    • Careers
    • Awards and Recognition
    • Get A Quote
    • Newsroom
      • Press Releases
      • In The News
      • Media Contacts
      • COVID-19 Response
    • Leadership Team
    • Legal
      • Cookie Policy
      • Privacy Notice
      • Software Services Agreement
      • Terms of Use
      • Backup Fair Use Policy
    • Security
      • SolarWinds Security Statement
      • Vendor Data Protection Requirements
    • Support
  • IT Departments
  • Contact Sales
    • Get A Quote
    • General Inquiry
  • TRY NOW
    • SolarWinds RMM
    • SolarWinds Backup
    • MSP Manager
    • SolarWinds Passportal
    • SolarWinds N-central
    • SolarWinds Mail Assure
    • SolarWinds Risk Intelligence
    • SolarWinds Take Control
  • Request a Quote
  • Try Now
    • SolarWinds RMM
    • SolarWinds N-central
    • SolarWinds Backup
    • MSP Manager
    • SolarWinds Mail Assure
    • SolarWinds Passportal
    • SolarWinds Risk Intelligence
    • SolarWinds Take Control
Request quote
Filter Blogs
  • Filter by:
  • MSP Business
    • Automation
    • Backup & Disaster Recovery
    • Security-series
    • Best Practices
    • Business
    • Business Growth
    • Business Risk
    • Cloud Computing
    • Customer Service
    • Cybersecurity
    • Cybersecurity Awareness Month
    • Data
    • GDPR
    • Internet of Things
    • IT Support
    • ITSM
    • LOGICcards
    • Machine Learning
    • Mail
    • Managed Services
    • Marketing
    • Mobile
    • Networking
    • Operations
    • Podcast
    • Product
    • PSA
    • Remote Management
    • Research & Trends
    • Risk Intelligence
    • Security
    • Security Vlog
    • Service Desk
    • Services & Support
    • The Head Nerds
    • Tips & Advice
    • Training
Home Blog MSP Business Networking IT Infrastructure Monitoring
Networking

IT Infrastructure Monitoring

By SolarWinds MSP
13 January, 2020

IT infrastructure monitoring is the unsung hero of the modern workplace. It’s a hero because it sustains our technology systems in ways that allow them to function continuously, reliably, and seamlessly. It’s unsung because most employees don’t notice it, so long as the technologies they rely on continue to work without interruption. 

However, IT infrastructure monitoring is 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?

Understanding IT Infrastructure Monitoring

In order to understand the term IT infrastructure monitoring, let’s break it down into its constituent parts. “IT infrastructure” refers to the various components comprising any IT service. Think about your own office environment—computers, 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.

IT infrastructure monitoring refers to the process of continuously collecting data related to the health of your IT system—a 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.

Monitoring vs. Management

CTA Image

SolarWinds Remote Monitoring and Management

Get the tools you need to manage, secure, and improve all things IT—all within a single web-based dashboard.

Try It Free Learn More

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.

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 monitoring and management contribute to the process by which IT experts identify and resolve problems before they affect end users.

IT Infrastructure Monitoring Tools

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:

  • Availability, performance, and health status monitoring
  • Flexibility for private, public, and hybrid cloud environments
  • Advanced alerting when problems arise 
  • Customizable reports on your system
  • Customer support options

Most importantly, you will want to choose a tool that meets the particular needs of your business. This means finding a provider that can customize their tools to fit your company.

The Future of IT Infrastructure Monitoring

As you begin to think about IT infrastructure monitoring, it is also worth noting how the nature of IT infrastructure monitoring is changing. As more businesses choose to transfer operations from underlying infrastructures to the cloud and elsewhere, the kind of disastrous meltdowns and data losses we feared in the past have become far less common. This new reality frees up IT infrastructure monitoring to focus less on infrastructure-related metrics and more on business-relevant metrics that can be vital to everyone in the company or organization. According to Gartner’s estimates, approximately 60% of IT monitoring investments will include a focus on these latter metrics by 2021.

Due to these developments, IT infrastructure monitoring is finally having its day in the sun. In addition to IT experts, leaders across industries are recognizing the important insights this process can provide. These insights are no longer limited exclusively to the functioning of IT ecosystems and increasingly encompass core business practices and operations. 

 

Additional reading

Apple Monitoring for your MSP: What You Need to Know
Top Five Remote Monitoring, Management Criteria to Fuel MSP Business Growth
Empower MSP Amsterdam—Emergence of User Experience and Security
You might also like...
Networking

5 Excellent Benefits of Using a Network Topology Tool

Networking

How to Perform a Network Audit: A Step-By-Step Guide

Networking

Network Visibility: A Complete Guide

Networking

Network Map Creation: 5 Simple Steps

Networking

The Most Effective Types of Network Topology: A Quick Guide for MSPs

Networking

Active Directory Cleanup Best Practices

Want to stay up to date?

Get the latest MSP tips, tricks, and ideas sent to your inbox each week.

Loading form....

If the form does not load in a few seconds, it is probably because your browser is using Tracking Protection. This is either an Ad Blocker plug-in or your browser is in private mode. Please allow tracking on this page to request a subscription.

Note: Firefox users may see a shield icon to the left of the URL in the address bar. Click on this to disable tracking protection for this session/site

Recent Posts
  • January 2021 Patch Tuesday: One Actively Exploited Vulnerability and a Few Likely to Be
  • TAP Blog Series: Maximizing Your Service Delivery Opportunity
  • Why Do MSPs Choose SolarWinds Backup? IT Central Station Finds Out
  • Seven Features Remote Assistance Software Should Have
  • TAP Blog Series: Creating Your Automation Strategy—Three Key Components You Must Have in Place
Categories:
  • Security (229)
  • Tips & Advice (122)
  • Best Practices (94)
  • Managed Services (86)
  • Backup & Disaster Recovery (82)
  • Business Growth (75)
  • The Head Nerds (74)
  • IT Support (41)
  • Business (39)
  • Cybersecurity (37)
  • Automation (36)
  • Operations (33)
  • Mail (33)
  • Remote Management (27)
  • ITSM (25)
  • Data (21)
  • Cloud Computing (21)
  • Networking (21)
  • Marketing (14)
  • Product (11)
  • PSA (10)
  • Service Desk (4)
  • Services & Support (4)
  • Mobile (4)
  • Risk Intelligence (4)
  • Customer Service (3)
  • Internet of Things (3)
  • GDPR (2)
  • Research & Trends (2)
  • Training (2)
  • LOGICcards (1)
  • Business Risk (1)
Show moreless
SolarWinds MSP

Products
  • SolarWinds RMM
  • SolarWinds N-central
  • SolarWinds Backup
  • SolarWinds EDR
  • SolarWinds MSP Manager
  • SolarWinds Mail Assure
  • SolarWinds Risk Intelligence
  • SolarWinds Take Control
  • SolarWinds Passportal
  • All Products Use Cases
Solutions
  • Security Solutions
  • Monitoring Solutions
  • Efficiency Solutions
  • Identify which RMM solution is right for me
  • Drive Efficiency with Automation
  • Manage my MSP Business More Efficiently
  • Manage my IT Department More Efficiently
  • Layered Security
  • Cross-Platform Support
  • Data-Driven Insights
About
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Leadership Team
  • Upcoming Events
  • Subscription Preferences
  • SolarWinds
  • SolarWinds Trust Center
  • COVID-19 Response
Support
  • SolarWinds RMM
  • Solarwinds N-central
  • SolarWinds Backup
  • SolarWinds Mail Assure
  • SolarWinds Take Control
  • SolarWinds MSP Manager
  • Solarwinds Risk Intelligence
  • Solarwinds Threat Monitor
  • SolarWinds Passportal
  • SolarWinds Take Control Downloads
  • Backup & Recovery Downloads
  • Service Status

Footer 2

  • Legal Documents
  • Privacy
  • California Privacy Rights
  • Security Information
  • Sitemap

© SolarWinds MSP Canada ULC and SolarWinds MSP UK Ltd.
All Rights Reserved.