Business has gone digital – Updating your business processes to much-invested online spaces has made it easier for organizations to keep track of their activities but this comes with some security risks.
The network connects different operational sites, devices, and IT systems thus forming an essential infrastructure to keep the online operations running.
With the adoption of IoTs network technology is changing at a rapid scale to keep up with the speed and for the sake of security you need to continuously monitor your network.
Network monitoring tools help to monitor the health, availability, and performance of your network in real-time thus helping to detect any malfunction.
Network management and monitoring tools are defined as on-premise or cloud-based software platforms that connect with network components and other IT systems to measure, analyze, and report on network topology, performance, and health.
In this article, we will guide you through the best network management tools.
What is Network Monitoring Software?
When businesses and users in large organizations face poor connectivity issues or other network-related problems, in such cases installing good network monitoring software can help you troubleshoot malfunctions. Network monitoring software uses different features and tools to analyze data, monitor, detect, diagnose, and resolve network performance issues.
This software can track various aspects of a network and its operation, such as traffic, bandwidth utilization, and uptime so they can easily detect any obstruction in the network by providing real-time updates.
Network monitoring software constantly monitors your network to find any performance issues, they function by configuring thresholds so that you will be alerted instantly when there is a threshold violation. Network monitoring software benefits an organization by early detection of network issues thus saving cost and reducing downtime.
What Should You Look for in Network Monitoring Tools
While selecting a network monitor tool for your business, it is important to weigh in on your current requirements and also your future needs. Yet there are some basic features one should look for in Network monitoring tools
- Scalability: The most scalable network monitor tools are easily adaptable to the changing needs of the IT infrastructure or users.
- Automation: Automation helps monitoring tools to automatically detect and troubleshoot, send alert notifications, forecast storage growth, clean your storage, etc.
- Real-time monitoring: Any network monitoring tool must provide performance insights into your network in real-time so that you are updated regularly and any network malfunctions can be easily solved
- Customizable alerts: Network monitoring software should be able to alert the user via SMS, email, or any other communication channel if they suspect any unusual activity in the network. Software should also provide proper customizable options.
- User interface management: a web-based interface that centralizes management activities. Ideally, the interface should be easy to navigate, be intuitive, and display visual representations of data for ease of interpretation. Multiple user interfaces for companies.
The 10 Best Network Monitoring Software to Use in 2024
ManageEngine OpManager
OpManage is a comprehensive network monitoring tool that monitors up to 30,000 devices out of the box including Windows servers, Linux servers, storage devices, Windows services, and processes.
With intelligent automation and extensive protocol support, it can manage multiple configurations—like switches, firewalls, and routers.
OpManager best features:
- ML-based forecasting techniques help with planning purchase decisions as well as indicating when the device storage is about to get filled.
- The multi-vendor environment offers support for more than 53,000 vendor templates, these templates can also be customized to meet your needs
- Customizable alerts, With the alarm escalation rule any fault associated with availability, health, and performance is informed to a higher authority via email or SMS. You can also set multi-level thresholds.
OpManager limitations
- If OpManager is integrated with the Admin server, integration in all the Managed servers will be restricted and vice versa.
- Some users have had difficulty adding a server with the same credentials.
- There are often no notifications when new builds are released.
Pricing
- Standard: $245 (for 10 Devices)
- Professional: $345 (for 10 Devices)
- Enterprise: $11,545 (for 250 Devices)
OpManager customer rating and reviews
SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor
SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor (NPM) is a network monitoring tool developed by SolarWinds a U.S.-based multinational company. It is a multi-vendor network monitoring specializing in advanced network troubleshooting for on-premises, hybrid, and cloud services.
Its extra functions and visualizations are well-suited for large and complicated networks that require heavy administration productivity and network stability.
SolarWinds NPM best features:
- Pre-built tools for Cisco, Huawei, and other hardware providers with broad compatibility.
- NetPath and PerfStack for easy troubleshooting.
- Smarter scalability for large environments.
- With customizable alert options, you can set advanced alerts for all types of network events.
SolarWinds NPM limitations:
- Some users have reported that Sometimes the Dashboard delays to show the current status of Nodes/Services.
- WiFi heatmap is available for Cisco Meraki equipment only.
- Some users had difficulty upgrading the software.
Pricing:
SolarWinds NPM customer rating and reviews:
Paessler PRTG Network Monitor
PRTG is a network monitoring and managing tool from a German infrastructure monitoring technology company Paessler. It enables you to create a purpose-built solution for your needs. PRTG is suitable for networks of all sizes and capable of LAN, WAN, WLAN, and VPN monitoring. You can also monitor physical or virtual web, mail, and file servers, Linux systems, Windows clients, routers, and much more.
PRTG best features:
- Compatible with all network protocols and significant devices, including IoT.
- Sensors for monitoring different aspects of the network, such as bandwidth usage, hardware parameters, packet sniffing, network data usage, SNMP data, VoIP, and QoS.
Customizable dashboard and network maps. - Multiple user interfaces with a full-featured web interface, apps for desktop, android, and iOs.
PRTG limitations:
- Some users have found the user interface difficult to navigate.
- Many users find the pricing structure expensive.
- Users have reported difficulties with the setup process and the auto-scan feature.
PRTG Pricing:
PRTG customer rating and reviews:
Auvik
A Cloud-based network monitoring software in which users can automate the process of keeping track of their network and the devices connected to it. Auik provides mapping, inventory, automatic backup configuration, and smartly designed dashboards that visualize everything on the network. With its robust API library, you can easily integrate third-party applications and set up automated workflows. Auvik is especially useful for managing networks across multiple locations.
Auvik best features:
- Varying customization options through its APIs, allowing users to create personalized workflows.
- Pre-configured alerts and fully customized, organization-specific alert options are available.
- Secure remote access.
Auvik limitations
- Some users have reported issues with integration.
- Difficulty in navigating the interface.
- Some users have had difficulty setting and modifying alerts.
Auvik Pricing:
Auvik customer rating and reviews:
Domotz
Domotz is a remote Cloud-based network monitoring solution that provides a plug-and-play setup, thus making the installation process easier. It also supports non-IP gateway-connected devices. Domotz offers powerful network monitoring software for MSPs, System Integrators, and IT and Security Professionals with a unified dashboard, advanced features, and thousands of integrations. It provides a network topology map. versioning, backup, integrations with PSA, documentation, and ticketing systems.
Domotz best features:
- Secure remote connections to solve issues.
- Compatible with various devices, including Internet of Things (IoT) endpoints, security cameras, and more.
- Customizable or pre-configured scripts for deeper monitoring.
- Troubleshoot issues at the network and device level in real time.
Domotz limitations:
- Users have said there is no automatic cleaning of offline devices after X days offline.
- Some users especially small companies find the pricing structure expensive.
- Difficulty in detecting some devices in the network.
Domotz Pricing:
Domotz customer rating and reviews:
SINEC NMS Network management system
SINEC NMS software is a network management system developed by Siemens Company, that helps to monitor, manage, and configure industrial networks centrally. It is suitable for small, medium, and large network setups by providing monitoring around the clock including safety-relevant areas.
SINEC NMS’s best features:
- You can easily integrate components like SCALANCE, RUGGEDCOM, and SIMATIC Ident devices.
- Automatically generated regular system backup.
- Offers a central, policy-based firewall and Network Address Translation (NAT) management.
SINEC NMS limitations:
- There are certain vulnerabilities regarding safety.
SINEC NMS Pricing:
SINEC NMS customer rating and reviews:
Datadog
Datadog Network monitoring tool provides full visibility into every network component that makes up your on-prem, cloud, and hybrid environments, with little to no overhead. With full support for SNMP, Netflow, Syslog, and other data sources, it offers visualizations of network traffic across applications, containers, availability zones, and data centers, which helps to optimize users’ migrations. It separates network management and monitoring into service performance and device components.
Datadog best features
- It is traded on the NASDAQ.
- Real-time network insights, with detailed information on inter-component communication.
- Analyze system-wide DNS performance without having to SSH into individual machines.
Datadog limitations:
- Some users have found the user interface of Datadog to be challenging
- Some users have r mentioned the limitations in the reporting and analytics capabilities of Datadog.
- There is also a heavy learning curve associated with setting up and configuring Datadog.
Datadog Pricing:
Datadog customer rating and reviews:
Nagios XI
Nagios XI is a comprehensive network monitoring tool by U.S.-based Nagios Enterprises. With automated trending and capacity planning graphs and proactive alerts sent via email, and SMS text message you can easily navigate and troubleshoot any issue. Automated, integrated trending and capacity planning graphs allow organizations to easily view network incidents and resolve them before they become major issues.
Nagios XI’s best feature:
- Multi-tenant capabilities to simplify administration with advanced user management.
- Nagios XI uses the powerful Nagios Core 4 monitoring engine.
- Updated web interface with a customizable high-level overview of hosts, services, and network devices.
Nagios XI limitations:
- Customers have reported some issues with the mobile interface.
- Since Nagios monitoring agents aren’t commercially supported users find it difficult to change features.
Nagios XI Pricing:
Nagios XI customer rating and reviews:
Entuity
Entuity is a network monitoring software that comes with 100+ pre-built reports, automation features, and default rules for noise reduction. The company also offers managed services for enterprise networks.
Entuity’s best feature:
- Entuity runs continual network discovery and generates dynamic network topology maps to surface up-to-date data.
- You can view alerts for individual components or the entire network.
- Multiple user interface.
Entuity limitations:
- Large installations can be complex.
- Patch management takes time.
Entuity pricing:
Entuity customer rating and reviews:
Spiceworks Connectivity Dashboard
Spiceworks dashboard is a free tool that visually represents the connectivity between your remote sites or individual workstations and your IT infrastructure in real time. It is fully integrated with Spiceworks Cloud Help Desk and online inventory. You can set custom alerts whenever your end-users or remote sites can’t reach important infrastructure devices or websites.
Spiceworks best feature:
- Real-time connectivity matrix accelerates troubleshooting by helping you identify whether there’s an issue with an ISP.
- Compatible with various application types, web assets, and network endpoint.
- Multiple user interfaces with mobile apps for Spiceworks Help Desk.
Spiceworks limitations:
- Some customers find it difficult to integrate with other devices.
- Some users have reported issues with monitoring external resources related to Websites, service provider links, or any hosted applications.
Spiceworks pricing:
Spiceworks customer rating and reviews:
With the vast array of monitoring software and tools available, deciding which network management tool is best for your company can be a challenge. Start by taking advantage of the free trials available to you and select the right tool for your needs.
FAQs
What are network monitoring tools?
Ans: Network monitoring tools are used to monitor a computer network’s ongoing health and reliability. They collect data to analyze traffic flow and measure performance and availability. Network monitoring software watches for malfunctioning network devices and overloaded resources in network resources that are on-premises, in a data center, hosted by a cloud services provider, or part of a hybrid ecosystem.
Why are network monitoring tools used?
Ans: Since the network is the backbone of all online operations continuous monitoring of the network is required to ensure reliability and robust security. Network monitoring is important because it helps you point out the exact location of any network problems, or prove that the network is not the source of a problem. Network monitoring tools are used to detect and correct any performance issue or malfunction in your network.
How do network monitoring tools work?
Ans: Networks enable the transfer of information between two systems, for data to be sent across a network, it will pass through each component of the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection), utilizing different protocols. Network monitoring tools watch over various components that make up a network, ensuring that engineers can troubleshoot network issues whenever they occur. Network monitoring works by analyzing network traffic, including all data sent from one computer to another, and using this information to detect any malfunctions.
How to use network monitoring tools?
Ans: While using a network monitoring tool initially decide which network device or system is to be monitored, establish performance metrics, and provide monitoring intervals. Once started working the network monitoring tool will scan the available data and detect errors if there are any.
These tools help us visualize the entire structure of a network with customizable dashboards that provide real-time performance graphs showing how the components look.
The network monitoring tool will alert you via SMS, email, or any other communication method if there is any malfunction.