| |
|
If you haven't heard about it yet, you will, and will hear more
and more over time as service providers spread the word and try to turn
everyone on to network monitoring. Why the big push? It's good
for everyone. As service providers, not only can we manage greater
numbers of systems and networks than before, but we can do a
much better job of it than we ever could. Business owners
enjoy a higher level of assurance that critical systems
are maintained and working properly when you need them, which of course is all the
time!
Consider the case of a typical service provider who does not
employ a network monitoring tool. The list of parameters to be
checked for computer and network health is long. To purposely
schedule routine maintenance with any kind of meaningful
frequency is cost prohibitive. This service occurs every
month, at the end of which you get an invoice
detailing all the service that has been performed. A long list
of periodic confirmations that all is well will have you
wondering why you're spending your money, and, the more frequently
we check, the bigger the bill! Yet if we feel a responsibility
to our clients, and you know we do, we are compelled to check
with at least some frequency. As the business owner you
place the responsibility on the service provider, even if no
formal contract is involved.
To accomplish this, the service provider logs into each computer on the network and goes
through a checklist; hard drive space, Windows updates, event
logs, antivirus up to date, etc. If you've got more than a few
computers this becomes quite a job.
Instead, with network monitoring tools, a quick look at a screen
tells us that all is well, or, that something is not and what
that something is. We don't even need to look, we're notified by
Email or IM. This method of operation provides an unprecedented level
of efficiency that has recently become available and its use is
spreading rapidly.
|
