Why Network Monitoring Is Important For Any Business

Originally published on August 14, 2006 by Dirk Paessler
Last updated on March 03, 2022 • 3 minute read

Before we begin to talk about the importance of Network Monitoring, let's see what "Network Monitoring" exactly is. The free online encyclopedia Wikipedia says:
"The term Network Monitoring describes the use of a system that constantly monitors a computer network for slow or failing systems and that notifies the network administrator in case of outages via email, pager or other alarms."
I would extend this definition by not only monitoring the network for outages but also monitoring the performance and usage of a network.

With "network", we mean the internal network (LAN) of an organization as well as the external infrastructure like the connection to the Internet and server systems accessible via the Internet that are located somewhere else. If your organization employs a WAN (wide area network), single or multiple LANs (local area network), or hosts or supports network-intensive applications, you need to implement a solution that continuously monitors your network. Establishing or adopting a method of monitoring network activity is essential to ensuring the success of your company and the security of your organization's information. This requires solutions that can automatically detect and respond to threats and performance issues in real time, as well as predict possible issues in the future. Related posts: Interview: The Benefits of Network Monitoring

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