Good Networks Require You To Monitor Server Health

Keeping your network running smooth is no small task. There are a huge number of variables to take into consideration, such as monitoring disk space, checking that your antivirus software is updated and that the last backups completed successfully.

Taking a manual approach to monitor server health is not going to be effective. You would spend most of your day simply ensuring Windows® services are running correctly, without even having a chance to look into the physical disk performance of each of your workstations.

Fortunately, there is a solution in the form of cloud-based server monitoring solutions. These allow you to monitor server health simply and effectively, without having to keep up with a myriad of processes. Let’s look at the advantages of this solution and how it can give busy IT departments peace of mind and healthier networks.

Get setup in minutes

Getting started with a cloud-based solution to monitor server health requires only the deployment of an agent to the servers and workstations that you want to monitor. There’s no hardware to source, applications to install, firewall ports to open, or other infrastructural needs to worry about. With just a few clicks, you can have your cloud-based monitoring solution up and running in minutes.

Pre-configured checks

While cloud based-solutions are easy to set up, good solutions that can monitor server health should also come with a core set of pre-configured checks for the most common aspects of Windows® servers. This makes it easy for an IT administrator to get new servers and workstations configured into the system.

Easy to use

There is no point wasting a lot of time on complicated software. A good solution to monitor server health should also feature an intuitive, easy-to-use interface that is easy to work with. Cloud-based solutions also have the advantage of removing complexity, allowing more junior IT administrators to be tasked with monitoring the network, while expensive seniors are redeployed to more productive tasks.

Easy, simple maintenance

Cloud-based monitoring solutions allow you to monitor server health, while leaving the overheads of maintaining the software and underlying infrastructure to the host.  Also, updates and upgrades are automatically deployed without the need for an IT administrator to manually check each workstation and server. And because this is a cloud-based solution, updates can be applied as soon as they are released, without any worries about compatibility, dependencies or conflicts.

Web-based access

Cloud-based server monitoring solutions also allow you to log in to a management console through any web-enabled device, such as an iPad or a smartphone, to see what is going on with your network. The management console provides you with clear insight into the real-time performance of your network and enables you to monitor server health even while you are out of the office. Email alerts or text messages to a cell phone whenever a critical event occurs, will also keep you in the loop and allow you to respond immediately to urgent issues.

A solution that grows with you

Cloud-based solutions can quickly scale to your network growth through the dynamic provisioning of licenses. New workstations and servers can then be added with just a few clicks, no matter where those devices are located. In this way, you can monitor server health in a more efficient manner.

A low cost solution

Because cloud-based solutions allow you to get all the advantages with an affordable subscription-based pricing structure, you keep your costs low and predictable. As there are no software or hardware purchases, capital expenditure is also advantageously converted to operational expenditure.

If you are trying to monitor server health without a dedicated solution you are probably spending far too much time on the process. Get yourself a dedicated network monitoring solution and optimize your server and workstations the easy way. That will leave you time to work on more productive, and more interesting, tasks.

This guest post was provided by Jeff Smith on behalf of GFI Software Ltd. GFI is a leading software developer that provides a single source for network administrators to address their network security, content security and messaging needs. Find out more reasons to monitor server health.

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