Best Network Monitoring Software Shortlist

Here are my top 12 tools to optimize your network performance:

1. Wireshark - Best for packet analysis

2. PRTG Network Monitor - Best for real-time network monitoring
3. Prometheus - Best free network monitoring tool
4. Nagios XI - Best for enterprises
5. Zenoss - Best for hybrid IT infrastructure monitoring
6. ManageEngine OpManager - Best for multi-vendor network monitoring
7. WhatsUp Gold - Best for comprehensive network monitoring
8. LogicMonitor - Best for cloud-based network monitoring
9. New Relic - Best for advanced and power users
10. Dynatrace - Best for network monitoring in complex environments
11. Datadog - Best for small businesses
12. Zabbix - Best open-source option
With so many different network monitoring software available, figuring out
which is right for you is tough. You know you want to improve your
database management process, but need to figure out which tool is best to
help you out. I've got you! In this post I'll help make your choice easy,
sharing my personal experiences using dozens of different network
monitoring software with large teams and projects, with my picks of the
best network monitoring software.

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How To Choose a Network Monitoring

Software
As you're shortlisting, trialing, and selecting network monitoring software,
consider the following:
 What problem are you trying to solve - Start by identifying the network
monitoring feature gap you're trying to fill to clarify the features and
functionality the tool needs to provide.
 Who will need to use it - To evaluate cost and requirements, consider
who'll be using the platform and how many licenses you'll need. You'll need
to evaluate if it'll just be the IT team, or the whole organization that will
require access. When that's clear, it's worth considering if you're
prioritizing ease of use for all, or speed for your technical power users.
 What other tools it needs to work with - Clarify what tools you're
replacing, what tools are staying, and the tools you'll need to integrate
with. This could include your existing network infrastructure, various data
sources, and your overall tech stack. You might also need to decide if the
tools will need to integrate together, or alternatively, if you can replace
multiple tools with one consolidated network monitoring software.
 What outcomes are important - Consider the result that the tool needs
to deliver to be considered a success. Think about what capability you want
to gain, or what you want to improve, and how you will be measuring
success. You could compare network monitoring software features until
you’re blue in the face, but if you aren’t thinking about the outcomes you
want to drive, you could be wasting a lot of valuable time.
 How it would work within your organization - Consider the solutions
alongside your workflows and existing infrastructure. Evaluate what's
working well, and the areas that are causing issues that need to be
addressed. Remember every business is different — don’t assume that
because a tool is popular that it'll work in your organization.

Best Network Monitoring Software Reviews

Here you’ll find my choices for the best network monitoring software and
tools:
1. Wireshark - Best for packet analysis

Use

Wireshark for network troubleshooting, analysis, and protocol development.

(Source)
Wireshark is a powerful network protocol analyzer that lets you capture and
analyze network traffic in real time.

Why I picked Wireshark: I picked Wireshark because it can decode

packets and display detailed information about each protocol layer. It uses
color highlighting to identify packet types and anomalies. Users can create
custom display filters to focus on specific protocol fields.

Wireshark Standout Features and Integrations:

Features that I liked about Wireshark are that it offers deep inspections of
over 3,000 protocols ( more are continually being added). Along with live
capture, it can also analyze pre-recorded capture files. It includes an expert
system that can detect common network problems and provide suggestions
for troubleshooting.

Integrations are available natively for tcpdump, Tshark, WinPcap,

AirPcap, and Dumpcap. APIs are also available.
 Pricing: Free

Trial: Free plan available

Pros

 Can analyze network flows and provide insights into traffic patterns
 Can generate statistical reports and graphs to visualize network traffic
patterns
 Can decrypt SSL/TLS encrypted traffic, allowing for deeper analysis
Cons

 Requires a good understanding of network protocols and packet analysis

 May consume a significant amount of system resources

2. PRTG Network Monitor - Best for real-time network

monitoring

View maps for distributed network monitoring with PRTG. (Source)

PRTG Network Monitor is a comprehensive network monitoring tool
specifically designed for Windows.
 Why I picked PRTG: I chose PRTG for its powerful real-time monitoring
and alerting system through which you can get instant alerts via email or
push notifications about any unusual network behavior. I also used their
fine-tuned warning thresholds which could identify issues proactively. I
could also set priorities for alerts and schedule alarms for high-priority
ones.

PRTG Standout Features and Integrations:

Features that I found useful about PRTG are that it lets you monitor IT,
operational technology (OT), and IoT infrastructure without vendor lock-in.
When setting up the initial monitoring, it can automatically detect
networks, and you can create your custom dashboards with its drag-and-
drop editor. If you work in distributed locations, you can look at the
performance of all networks in one central place.

Integrations are pre-built and include Acronis, Check Point, Crosser,

EgoSecure, Fujitsu, IP Fabric, NetApp, Moxa, ServiceNow, and
ScriptRunner. APIs are available too.

Pricing: From $1,899 per server license, which can accommodate up to 50

devices

Trial: 30-day free trial + Free plan available

Pros

 Installation takes just a few minutes

 On-premise option available
 Can create high-level or in-depth reports
Cons

 Resource intensive
 Limited compatibility with operating systems other than Windows
3. Prometheus - Best free network monitoring tool

You can visualize graphics of various metrics with Grafana in Prometheus.

(Source) Prometheus is an open-source monitoring and alerting system.
SoundCloud developed it, and it’s now a part of the Cloud Native
Computing Foundation.
Why I picked Prometheus: Prometheus is a free, general-purpose
monitoring and alerting system that can monitor various aspects of your
networks, systems, and applications. It specializes in time-series data
collection and provides querying capabilities for analyzing and visualizing
metrics. I selected Prometheus because it provides a flexible platform for
collecting, storing, and analyzing time-series data related to network
metrics.

Prometheus Standout Features and Integrations:

Features that I liked, especially for network monitoring, are that you can
track network bandwidth usage, packet loss, latency, and other network
performance indicators. Prometheus supports a federation feature, which
allows you to aggregate data from multiple Prometheus instances into a
 single federated view. This is useful for monitoring large-scale distributed
networks or multi-cluster environments.

Integrations are available natively for Asana, Better Uptime, DingTalk,

Discord, GitLab, JIRAlert, ServiceNow, xMatters, Grafana, and Squadcast.

Pricing: Free

Trial: Free

Pros

 Can set up alerts based on defined rules and thresholds

 Supports various service discovery mechanisms
 Can store historical network metrics
Cons

 May experience performance issues with large-scale deployments and high

ingestion rates
 Lack of native support for certain data formats and protocols

4. Nagios XI - Best for enterprises

View various metrics like service statuses and alerts on the Nagios XI
dashboard. (Source) Nagios XI simplifies the process of monitoring,
managing, and analyzing your network infrastructure, enabling you to
maintain optimal performance and ensure the availability of your critical
systems.
Why I picked Nagios XI: I like Nagios XI for enterprises because it
provides a centralized dashboard that allows you to monitor the health and
performance of your systems, networks, and infrastructure from a single
location. You can monitor key metrics like CPU usage, memory utilization,
and network traffic. It supports a plugin architecture, which allows you to
extend its functionality by adding custom plugins.

Nagios XI Standout Features and Integrations:

Features that I feel enterprise teams will find helpful are its robust alerting
and notification system that alerts you in real-time via email, SMS, or other
methods when issues are detected. Nagios XI also supports distributed
monitoring architectures, allowing you to deploy multiple monitoring
servers across different locations and networks.

Integrations are native and include Fedora, FreeBSD, MongoDB,

Selenium, ServiceNow, VMWare, and openSUSE. APIs are available.
 Pricing: From $1,995

Trial: 30-day free trial + Free plan available up to 7 nodes

Pros

 Can customize your dashboards and reports with widgets and charts
 Monitor and analyze log entries to identify errors and anomalies
 Can automate tasks like configuring checks, generating reports, and
performing system maintenance
Cons

 Steep learning curve

 Mobile app has limited features

5. Zenoss - Best for hybrid IT infrastructure monitoring

Zenoss leverages machine learning algorithms and models to quickly identify
the underlying cause of an issue, allowing for timely resolution. (Source)
Zenoss unifies the monitoring of physical and virtual network elements in a
centralized platform.

Why I picked Zenoss: What appealed to me about Zenoss is that IT

teams can manage and track all their on-prem and cloud environments
from one platform. Its star feature is its ability to monitor communications
platforms like Cisco UC Manager and Avaya Voice Portal, where it can
identify Voice over IP (VoIP) and video quality problems, check for call path
issues, and visualize all unified communications (UC) problems in real-time.

Zenoss Standout Features and Integrations:

Features that stood out to me are its ability to correlate, consolidate, and
deduplicate network events in relation to other component events and
devices in your IT network infrastructure. It also lets you access the IP
address inventory for any monitored devices with its network topology
map.

Integrations are available natively for ServiceNow, PagerDuty, Slack,

Nutanix, Splunk, LayerX, Sumo Logic, BMC, CA Technologies, and Juniper.

Pricing: Pricing upon request

 Trial: 14-day free trial + Free demo

Pros

 Can create a visual representation of the relationships between different

components to understand dependencies
 Log analysis
 Can automate routine tasks and enables the orchestration of complex
workflows
Cons

 No free plan available

 Can be complex to set up and configure, especially for users with limited
technical knowledge

6. ManageEngine OpManager - Best for multi-vendor network

monitoring
Measure network availability, packet loss, and response time with
ManageEngine OpsManager. (Source)
With advanced features like fault management, performance monitoring,
and bandwidth analysis, OpManager helps you proactively manage and
optimize your network infrastructure.

Why I picked ManageEngine OpManager: If you’re looking for a multi-

vendor network monitoring solution, then I think ManageEngine OpManager
is the perfect choice. It supports popular hardware vendors like HP, D-Link,
Juniper, Dell, 3Com, Cisco, Force10, NETGEAR, Fortinet, and NetScreen.
You can also choose a vendor of your choice as it provides 245 built-in
customizable device templates. These templates save the configuration
commands for all vendors, so you don’t have to remember all
configurations manually.

ManageEngine OpManager Standout Features and Integrations:

Features that I appreciate are that you can monitor various servers like
Hyper-V, Citrix, Nutanix HCI, and VMware. In addition, you can also
monitor access points, switches, WiFi systems, wireless routers, WAN links,
storage devices like storage arrays and tape libraries, and distributed
networks in multiple locations.

Integrations are natively built for ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus,

ServiceNow, Jira Service Management, Slack, and Microsoft Teams. APIs
are available.
 Pricing: From $245 (for 10 devices)

Trial: 30-day free trial + Free plan available for 3 devices and 2 users

Pros

 2,000+ performance metrics for network monitoring

 Mapping and visualization of performance degradation and network outages
 Router performance metrics like temperature, voltage, and buffer statistics
Cons

 Limited customization options for dashboards and reports

 Complex setup and configuration process

7. WhatsUp Gold - Best for comprehensive network

monitoring
You can manage and get insights into VMs, networks, physical servers,
traffic, and applications with easy-to-use dashboards. (Source)
WhatsUp Gold is a comprehensive IT monitoring and management solution
that provides real-time insights and alerts to ensure optimal performance
and availability of IT systems.

Why I picked WhatsUp Gold: WhatsUp Gold has common capabilities like
infrastructure network monitoring, automatic network discovery, and
notifications about network issues. What stands out to me is you can gain
insights into network traffic patterns, helping to optimize bandwidth
utilization. You can also monitor device performance metrics, such as CPU
usage, memory utilization, and disk space.

WhatsUp Gold Standout Features and Integrations:

Features that I appreciate are that it can track bandwidth usage and
monitor the performance of your database servers and even applications. It
also lets you monitor your virtualized environments and wireless network
infrastructure. You can monitor SNMP-enabled devices, collecting data for
performance analysis.

Integrations are natively available for Active Directory, ServiceNow,

VMware, Microsoft Azure, and Cisco. You can also do custom integrations
via REST APIs.
 Pricing: Pricing upon request

Trial: 30-day free trial + Free edition (unavailable in the US, Canada,
Japan, Taiwan)

Pros

 User-friendly interface
 Customizable dashboards and reports
 Extensive support for different protocols and vendors
Cons

 Occasional bugs or stability issues

 Complex deployment and configuration process
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8. LogicMonitor - Best for cloud-based network monitoring

Get insights into network metrics like throughput and alerts with
LogicMonitor. (Source)
LogicMonitor is an observability platform but comes with powerful features
to manage the health and performance of your network ecosystem.

Why I picked LogicMonitor: I chose LogicMonitor because of its ability to

support monitoring for SD-WAN and cloud-based networks. You can use
LogicMonitor to get insights into the workings of switches, wireless devices,
load balancers, routers, and firewalls. It also comes with network topology
mapping that helps you understand how devices are interconnected and
how data flows within the network.

LogicMonitor Standout Features and Integrations:

Features that I specifically want to call out are that you can easily enable
network traffic monitoring in complex environments to get information on
bandwidth allocation, packet loss, and more. It also offers log-based
anomaly detection and forecasts issues that may crop up.

Integrations include more than 2,000+ native options like ServiceNow,

PagerDuty, VMWare, BigPanda, Fortinet, Redis, ConnectWise, Juniper, and
Twilio. APIs are available.
 Pricing: Available on request

Trial: 14-day free trial

Pros

 Easy setup process

 Portal functionality and uptime are great
 Auto-discovery abilities are fast
Cons

 No free version
 Fewer customization options for user interfaces

9. New Relic - Best for advanced and power users

10. Dynatrace - Best for network monitoring in complex

environments
Capture connection issues and other network metrics with Dynatrace.
(Source) Dynatrace provides real-time visibility into your network, allowing
you to monitor and analyze traffic patterns, latency, and performance
metrics.
Why I picked Dynatrace: The reason I suggest Dynatrace for complex
environments is it enables smooth performance for all types of network
connections, like virtualized clouds and data centers, by installing agents
on each host. This lets you gain insight into which processes need
troubleshooting. For each process, it can track network bandwidth and
connection issues.

Dynatrace Standout Features and Integrations:

Features that I like are that you can get a big picture of your entire
virtualized network infrastructure. Plus, it can automatically monitor new
networks that are added. You also get to see other health metrics for CPU,
memory, and disk, as well as for applications, so that you understand the
impact of these issues on end-users.

Integrations are pre-built for Active Directory, Adobe Analytics, Akka,

Amazon DynamoDB, Ansible Tower, and Azure Virtual Machines and native
for Google Analytics, Gremlin, LaunchDarkly, and Zenduty.

Pricing: Depends on the service you choose

 Trial: 15-day free trial + Custom demo available

Pros

 Can analyze network latency and packet loss

 Capacity planning and forecasting for network resources
 Alerting and notification for network outages
Cons

 No free plan
 Pricing structure is complex

11. Datadog - Best for small businesses

Gain visibility into various DNS metrics with DataDog. (Source)
With Datadog, you can manage on-prem, cloud, and hybrid networks. You
can also track the performances of application layers and even the health
of bare-metal appliances.

Why I picked DataDog: The reason I suggest DataDog for small

businesses is because of its affordability and provision of all standard
network monitoring offerings. These include visual maps of connected
networks, traffic metrics by host, processes, and containers, and DNS
performance.

DataDog Standout Features and Integrations:

Features that I want to highlight are its ability to track metrics like TCP
retransmits, connection churn, and latency. It can also check on the
performance of traffic between layers like app, port, IP address, or process
ID (PID). You can track DNS server health with response time, error code,
and request-volume metrics.

Integrations are natively available for 600+ options, including Active

Directory, Airflow, Bitbucket, Bugsnag, Cassandra, Crowdstrike, GitHub,
and GitLab.

Pricing: From $5/host/month

 Trial: 14-day free trial

Pros

 Supports multi-cloud and hybrid environments

 Provides historical data for trend analysis
 Offers scalable monitoring capabilities
Cons

 Monitoring for Microsoft Azure tools can be complex

 Data retention periods may be shorter than desired

12. Zabbix - Best open-source option

Monitor incoming and outgoing traffic on the Zabbix dashboard. (Source)
Zabbix’s open-source tool provides detailed monitoring and analysis
capabilities, allowing you to identify and resolve network issues promptly.

Why I picked Zabbix: I selected Zabbix because, although it’s an open-

source platform, it has a wide range of network monitoring features. You
can track total bandwidth usage, packet loss, error rates, number of TCP
connections, link status, and other SNMP metrics. You can even monitor
network device performances like device availability, power supply status,
fan status, and temperature.

Zabbix Standout Features and Integrations:

Features that Zabbix provides are standard, like alerts for unexpected
spikes, ping loss, and anomalous behaviors. A feature that stands out for
me is its ability to create an escalation logic based on the severity of
network problems. You can escalate alerts across departments and users
and define each user’s or channel’s working hours.

Integrations are available natively for various platforms, including Zoho,

xMatters, VMware, Twilio, Tomcat, SysAid, Tableau, Splunk, Sophos, and
 ServiceNow. You can also request a custom integration from the Zabbix
support team.

Pricing: Free

Trial: Free forever

Pros

 Can define notification methods (SMS, on-screen, or email) when

thresholds exceed
 Active community because of being open-source
 300+ templates for most popular hardware network vendors
Cons

 Needs more documentation resources

 Need more templates for rich monitoring

Other Network Monitoring Software Options

Here are some extra options you can pick from. Even though they did not
make it to the best 12 list, they are still worth considering:

13. Cisco Meraki - Best for security

14. Observium - Best for scalable network monitoring and graphing and
ideal for large-scale deployments
15. Cacti - Best for graphing and visualizing network data
16. Ntop - Best for traffic analysis
17. NetCrunch - Best for hybrid IT
18. IBM QRadar - Best for security information and event management
19. Spiceworks - Best for non-technical users
20. Solarwinds - Best for scalability
21. Auvik - Best for network security and threat detection
22. Nmap - Best for automatic discovery and security audits

Selection Criteria For Network Monitoring

Software
To select network monitoring software for my list, I focus on a holistic view
of software capabilities, integrating both foundational and innovative
features. My criteria reflect a comprehensive approach to evaluating how
well a product meets the practical requirements of its users, from core
functionalities to user experience and support. Through firsthand trials and
 extensive research, I've distilled the following criteria that guide my
recommendations.

Core Functionality: 25% of total weighting score

To be considered for inclusion on my list of the best network monitoring

solutions, a product must support common use cases:

 Continuous network performance monitoring

 Automated alerting for system anomalies
 Traffic analysis for identifying usage patterns and potential threats
 Log management for security and compliance auditing
 Real-time and historical data reporting for trend analysis
Additional Standout Features: 25% of total weighting score

 Unique capabilities that set a product apart from competitors, such as

advanced AI-driven anomaly detection or predictive analytics for
forecasting potential network issues.
 Examples include solutions offering detailed network topology visualization
tools or integrated threat intelligence for enhanced security posture.
 We test for innovative functionalities that elevate a product beyond basic
monitoring tasks, focusing on how these features can be applied to real-
world scenarios.
Usability: 10% of total weighting score

 An intuitive interface that balances complexity with ease of use, catering to

both novice users and experienced IT professionals.
 Network monitoring solutions should feature a dashboard that provides at-
a-glance insights and easy navigation to detailed data views.
 The design aesthetic should facilitate quick understanding and action on
data presented, with customizable views to suit different user preferences.
Onboarding: 10% of total weighting score

 Quick and straightforward setup processes that allow teams to deploy and
utilize the product without extensive downtime.
 Resources like training videos, interactive product tours, and step-by-step
guides that enable users to rapidly grasp the product's functionality.
 Support for migration from previous tools, with clear guidance on
integrating the new solution into existing workflows.
Customer Support: 10% of total weighting score

 Responsive and knowledgeable support teams capable of addressing issues

promptly.
 A variety of support channels, including live chat, email, and phone,
ensuring accessibility for users with different preferences.
 Provision of a comprehensive knowledge base or FAQ section for self-
service troubleshooting.
Value For Money: 10% of total weighting score

 Pricing models that align with the features and benefits offered, ensuring
organizations receive a fair return on their investment.
 Transparent pricing structures without hidden fees, with options for
scalability as the organization's needs grow.
 Consideration of long-term costs, including updates and support, in
assessing overall value.
Customer Reviews: 10% of total weighting score

 Positive feedback from current and past users, focusing on reliability,

efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
 Analysis of reviews to identify common trends and potential issues that
might not be apparent from product specifications alone.
 Attention to how current users rate the product's impact on solving their
specific network monitoring challenges.
By applying these criteria, I ensure a thorough evaluation of network
monitoring solutions, focusing on products that not only meet the standard
requirements but also offer additional value. This approach aids in
identifying solutions that best match your organizational needs to enhance
network security and performance.

Trends in Network Monitoring Software For

2024
In the rapidly advancing field of network monitoring software, I've seen
significant evolution and innovation aimed at addressing the complex
challenges IT specialists face in maintaining robust, secure, and efficient
networks. By reviewing the latest product updates, press releases, and
release logs from leading tools, we can discern clear trends that indicate
the direction of network monitoring technology. Here are the trends I'm
tracking for 2024:

Emerging Trends in Network Monitoring Software

 Integration of AI and Machine Learning: There's a strong trend

towards incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML)
algorithms to enhance anomaly detection and predictive analytics. These
technologies allow for more proactive network management by predicting
 potential issues before they cause disruptions, reflecting a shift towards
preventive strategies in network maintenance.
 Enhanced Automation for Response and Remediation: Automation
capabilities are evolving rapidly, with tools now offering more sophisticated
automated response and remediation actions. This evolution indicates a
move towards minimizing manual intervention and speeding up resolution
times for detected network issues.
 Cloud-native and SaaS Solutions: The rise of cloud-native and Software
as a Service (SaaS) network monitoring solutions reflects a growing
demand for scalability, flexibility, and ease of deployment. This trend caters
to organizations increasingly adopting cloud infrastructure, requiring tools
that can seamlessly monitor both on-premises and cloud environments.
 Advanced Security Features: As network security becomes a paramount
concern, monitoring tools are integrating advanced security features like
threat intelligence and encrypted traffic analysis. This development
suggests a convergence of network performance and security monitoring,
aiming to provide a holistic view of the network's health and threat
landscape.

Features Becoming Less Important

 Traditional SNMP-Based Monitoring: The reliance on Simple Network

Management Protocol (SNMP) for device monitoring is diminishing in favor
of more comprehensive and dynamic monitoring methods. This shift is
driven by the need to monitor increasingly complex and distributed network
architectures that SNMP alone cannot fully address.
 Manual Configuration and Setup Processes: As automation and AI-
driven configurations become more prevalent, the emphasis on manual
setup and configuration processes is decreasing. This change reflects a
market demand for more plug-and-play solutions that can adapt to a
network's needs with minimal manual oversight.
 Periodic Reporting Over Real-Time Insights: The importance of
periodic reports is waning in favor of real-time data and alerts. In an era
where network conditions can change rapidly, the need for immediate
information to facilitate swift decision-making is more critical than ever.
These trends underline a broader shift towards more intelligent,
automated, and flexible network monitoring solutions capable of adapting
to the evolving demands of modern networks and the new best practices of
monitoring them. The network monitoring software industry is poised to
meet the complex requirements of today's IT environments more
effectively.

What Is Network Monitoring Software?

 Network monitoring software is a category of monitoring tools designed to
supervise and manage computer networks for performance, health, and
security issues. IT professionals, network administrators, and cybersecurity
teams commonly utilize these tools to ensure network infrastructure
operates optimally and securely.

With these tools, businesses can proactively identify potential problems,

minimize downtime, and optimize network performance, which is crucial for
maintaining continuous operations and service quality. Features like real-
time alerts, performance analytics, and security threat detection support
this goal by offering deep visibility into network operations, facilitating swift
problem resolution, and enhancing network security.

Features of Network Monitoring Software

When I research and review network monitoring software to include in my
list, these are the top features I look for:

1. Real-time Monitoring: This feature provides immediate visibility into

network performance and health. It's essential for detecting anomalies as
they occur, allowing for swift response to potential threats.
2. Automated Alerts: Sends notifications based on predefined criteria or
anomalies. This ensures that you are immediately informed of any
suspicious activities, enabling quick action to mitigate threats.
3. Traffic Analysis: Offers detailed insights into the data flowing through
your network. Understanding traffic patterns helps identify unusual
behavior that may indicate a security issue.
4. Comprehensive Log Management: Centralizes and simplifies the
collection, storage, and analysis of network logs. Log management is
crucial for forensic analysis and identifying the root cause of security
incidents.
5. Vulnerability Scanning: Regularly scans your network for vulnerabilities.
Keeping abreast of vulnerabilities allows you to patch them before they can
be exploited by attackers.
6. Performance Benchmarking: Establishes performance baselines for
network operations. This feature helps in identifying deviations from the
norm, which could signify an underlying security problem.
7. Configuration Management: Tracks changes to network device
configurations. This ensures that any unauthorized changes, which could
potentially open up security vulnerabilities, are quickly detected and
addressed.
8. Bandwidth Monitoring: Monitors the use of network bandwidth. Sudden
spikes in bandwidth usage can indicate a security breach, such as a DDoS
attack or unauthorized data exfiltration.
9. Network Mapping: Automatically generates a visual map of your
network's devices and connections. This aids in identifying unauthorized
devices on your network and potential vulnerabilities.
10. Encryption Monitoring: Ensures that data in transit across your
network is properly encrypted. Monitoring encryption helps protect against
data interception and ensures compliance with security policies.
Choosing a software that includes the right combination of features to
match your needs is the best way to ensure you achieve your goals. It's not
just about preventing incidents; it's about creating a resilient network
environment where security is continuously enforced and optimized.

Benefits of Network Monitoring Software

In an era where networks are increasingly complex and critical to business
operations, network monitoring software is an essential tool for maintaining
the health and efficiency of these vital systems. Here are five primary
advantages of deploying network monitoring software:

1. Enhanced Network Performance: By continuously monitoring network

traffic and device performance, this software helps identify and rectify
issues before they escalate, ensuring smooth and efficient network
operations.
2. Reduced Downtime: The proactive detection and alerting mechanisms
allow for quick resolution of issues, significantly reducing network
downtime and minimizing its impact on business operations.
3. Improved Security Posture: Network monitoring software provides
visibility into network traffic and can identify suspicious activities, thereby
enhancing the overall security of the network against potential threats.
4. Cost Savings: By preventing downtime and optimizing network
performance, organizations can avoid the high costs associated with
network failures and inefficient bandwidth usage.
5. Compliance and Reporting: The ability to log network activities and
generate detailed reports aids in compliance with regulatory standards and
provides valuable insights for strategic planning.
The adoption of network monitoring software offers a transformative
potential for organizations, streamlining their operations, enhancing
security, and optimizing resource usage. These benefits not only support
the technical aspects of network management but also contribute
significantly to the overall strategic goals of the organization, making such
software an invaluable asset in today’s digital landscape.
Costs & Pricing For Network Monitoring
Software
Choosing the right network monitoring software can seem daunting,
especially for those with little to no experience in the field. Various plans
and pricing options are designed to cater to different sizes and types of
businesses, from small startups to large enterprises. Understanding the
common plan options and what they typically include can help you make an
informed decision that aligns with your organization's needs and budget.

Plan Comparison Table For Network Monitoring Software

Below, I outline the various plan options along with their average pricing
and common features to help you make an informed decision:

Plan Type Average Price Common Features

Basic monitoring capabilities, limited number of devices or

Free $0
sensors, community support

$1,500 - Enhanced monitoring features, support for more devices,

Basic
$3,000/year email support, basic reporting capabilities

$3,500 - Full monitoring suite, scalability options, advanced

Professional
$7,000/year reporting, priority support

Customizable features, unlimited devices, dedicated

Enterprise $10,000+/year
support, comprehensive security analysis
When considering network monitoring software, it's important to evaluate
both the scale of your network and the complexity of your monitoring
needs. Keep in mind that investing in a plan that scales with your
organization can provide long-term benefits, ensuring that your network
remains robust and secure as your business grows.

Network Monitoring Software Frequently Asked Questions

You can find answers to common questions about network monitoring and network monitoring
tools.
Why is network monitoring important?
How does network monitoring software work?
Which type of networks does a network monitoring software monitor?
Conclusion
With network monitoring, you can detect potential security threats, identify
inefficiency, and optimize resource allocation.

Investing in network monitoring software can ensure your networks' health

and proactively address issues before they become outages.