IT monitoring: its impact on infrastructure management

Monitoring an IT infrastructure helps to avoid unexpected interruptions that affect the availability of critical services. It also prevents performance failures and bottlenecks, which can reduce operational efficiency. 

In addition, it provides early warnings about storage problems or data loss, which affect business continuity and expose the company to regulatory sanctions.

IT monitoring offers the possibility of identify suspicious activities in time, and prevent unauthorized access that compromises the security of the infrastructure. 

In the long term, the lack of IT monitoring increases operational costs, since reactive solutions to failures are usually more expensive than a preventive strategy. 

It can also cause bad user experience due to undetected problems, with serious negative consequences for the organization's image and customer satisfaction.

In this article we analyze what it consists of, what it is used for, why it is important and what are the advantages of infrastructure monitoring. 

What is IT infrastructure monitoring?

As explained from IBMInfrastructure monitoring is the process of monitoring, analyzing, and managing the performance, availability, and health of the backend components of an enterprise's technology stack. 

This includes servers, networks, databases, storage devices and applications. Also the memory chips and processors, the operating system (OS) and the application server. 

These are components that play a role vital role in delivering an application or service to end users, and can exist in cloud, on-premises, and hybrid environments

The goal of IT monitoring is to ensure that they are functioning correctly and to detect any potential problems before they affect the performance or availability of services.

Monitoring may include:

• Server and Network Performance – Analyzes load, data throughput, and latency.
• Service Availability: Check whether critical systems and applications are operational.
• Security: Identify potential vulnerabilities or intrusion attempts.
• Real-time alerts: incorporates monitoring tools to generate alerts in the event of any anomaly or failure.

Its main purpose is prevent disruptions, optimize performance and ensure operational continuity.

Infrastructure monitoring involves using Specialized tools that automatically collect, aggregate, and analyze data and metrics of servers, virtual machines, containers, databases, and other backend components. 

What is IT monitoring used for and what are its advantages?

IT infrastructure monitoring is a comprehensive process that provides continuous visibility into the status and performance of key technology components within an organization. 

This visibility is crucial for the proper functioning of the systems and for avoid interruptions that may affect business operations. 

Among the advantages and applications that IT monitoring provides, the following stand out:

1. Early detection of problems

IT monitoring allows you to identify potential problems before they become critical failures. 

Monitoring tools analyze key metrics such as CPU, memory, bandwidth, and network latency in real time. Any anomaly or deviation from normal parameters generates automatic alerts. 

This makes it easier for IT teams to take corrective action quickly and avoid major disruptions. 

For example, if a server is close to running out of resources, monitoring can notify you before a crash occurs.

2. Performance improvement

IT monitoring can help you optimize resources efficiently. This includes adjusting the performance of servers, networks, and storage to prevent overload or misuse. 

It also provides historical data, allowing Identify long-term trends and make strategic decisions, such as the need to upgrade equipment, increase network capacity, or reconfigure systems. 

For example, bottlenecks in applications can be identified and resolved to improve user experience.

3. Availability guarantee

Maintaining the availability of critical services and systems is one of the main objectives of IT monitoring. 

This is particularly important in production environments where unplanned downtime can have a significant financial impact. 

IT monitoring ensures that systems and applications are constantly operational.If any disruption or failure is detected, IT teams can quickly intervene to restore service.

For example, on an e-commerce website, constant availability is vital to avoid losing sales.

4. Security

IT monitoring not only focuses on performance, but also on the security of the infrastructure. 

By monitoring logs, traffic patterns and access, it is possible detect unusual behavior that could indicate attempted attacks or security breaches. 

By detecting suspicious activities, such as repeated unauthorized access attempts or a sudden increase in traffic, alerts can be triggered and preventive measures taken to prevent security breaches and protect sensitive data.

5. Regulatory compliance

In many industries, regulatory compliance is mandatory, and IT infrastructure monitoring can help meet those requirements. 

By recording and auditing the behavior of systems, you can ensure that data security policies and regulations are being complied with. 

For example, in industries such as finance or healthcare, where data protection is critical, IT monitoring offers detailed tracking and a history of incidents that can be useful in audits.

6. Cost optimization

By avoiding unplanned downtime and improving resource utilization, IT monitoring directly contributes to reducing operating costs. 

For example, instead of oversizing infrastructure to handle occasional spikes in demand, organizations can dynamically adjust resources based on actual needs. Thus, they reduce unnecessary spending on hardware or cloud services. 

Additionally, by preventing major failures that could lead to costly equipment repairs or replacements, you save money on maintenance and support.

7. Improving decision making

Infrastructure monitoring provides valuable data that IT managers can use to make strategic decisions. 

By having real-time information and historical records, you can More accurately plan growth needs, infrastructure expansion or modernization projects, and budget management.

In addition, data analysis makes it possible to anticipate future needs, such as purchasing more storage or adopting new technologies.

8. Improving user experience

For user-oriented services and applications, IT monitoring ensures smooth, uninterrupted performance. 

Fast response times and continuity of services improve customer experience, generating greater satisfaction and loyalty.

9. Efficient scalability

IT monitoring enables organizations to anticipate increases in resource demand and facilitate controlled scalability. 

By knowing precisely when and where more capacity is needed, you can Adjust resources efficiently, and avoid oversizing and lack of capacity at critical times.

10. Automation and reduction of operational load

Monitoring tools automate the monitoring of multiple infrastructure components, reducing the need for manual reviews. 

This frees up IT teams to focus on more strategic tasks rather than routine problem solving or constant monitoring.

How is IT infrastructure monitoring performed?

Infrastructure monitoring works by continuously collecting data from the various traditional and cloud-native components of an organization’s IT infrastructure. 

This data is analyzed to assess system performance, availability, and health.  

Methods for collecting and analyzing system data 

The two methods for collecting system data are as follows:

• Agent-based monitoring

An agent is a lightweight software layer installed by engineers on a host (any system or device that needs to be monitored), which collects relevant telemetry data about the state of the system. 

This process of installing agents on hosts is called instrumentation. 

With today's leading infrastructure monitoring solutions, agents can use sensors to discover components in the infrastructure stack after configuration. 

Once everything is fully instrumented, each agent begins collecting a wide range of metrics and measurements that reflect the behavior and status of the infrastructure.

• Agentless monitoring

This method does not require a separate software agent to be installed on the host. 

To collect and deliver system data to the infrastructure monitoring solution, it relies on built-in protocols such as:

• Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI)
• Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)
• Secure Shell (SSH) Protocols
• NetFlow 

It is often the only option for specialized hardware where an agent cannot be installed, such as routers, switches, and load balancers. It is also used for legacy systems and devices with limited available resources.

According to IBM, one of the advantages of agentless collection is that it works across different operating systems and platforms, as long as the necessary protocols or APIs are supported. This makes it more flexible in heterogeneous environments.

Recommended good practices 

Effective monitoring of technological infrastructures requires the following actions:

• Establish and review baseline performance metrics and KPIs for infrastructure components during normal operation. 
• Set up comprehensive alerts that are meaningful, actionable, and relevant to the specific issue.
• Organize and prioritize notifications.
• Conduct operational tests before a real emergency occurs.
• Set up role-specific dashboards.
• Rely on supplier support.

Practical examples of IT monitoring

In a cloud environment Monitoring enables dynamic scaling of resources according to demand, to avoid over-provisioning and optimize operating costs in the cloud.

In a data center, monitoring temperature and energy consumption prevents overheating or misuse of energy, which could damage equipment and increase costs.

Tracking key performance metrics helps you identify areas for improvement. Examples include optimizing CPU or memory usage, identifying network congestion, or tuning database queries for better performance.

It is also used to proactively detect problems before they impact end users or cause service disruptions. 

Likewise, analyze usage patterns, predict future resource requirements, and plan capacity expansion. 

Monitoring resources and infrastructure usage additionally allows for optimizing resource allocation, identifying which are inactive or underused, and from there make informed decisions.

In addition, IT monitoring is essential to detect security incidents and ensure compliance with security policies. 

Why is IT infrastructure monitoring important?

IT monitoring is essential to ensure the continuity and efficiency of technological operations within an organization. 

Below we mention some of the reasons that demonstrate its relevance.

Minimizing downtime

Critical systems, such as servers and networks, must be available for a company's operations to continue without interruption. 

IT monitoring allows detect problems before they affect the availability of services. This reduces unplanned downtime, which can result in significant financial losses and damage to the organization's reputation.

Performance improvement

Monitoring tools help identify bottlenecks or inefficiencies in systems that affect overall performance. 

Optimizing these aspects ensures that technological resources (such as processing capacity, memory and storage) are used optimally, which improves the performance of applications and services.

Proactivity in problem solving

Without monitoring, problems are detected only after they have occurred, which can lead to a reactive and, in some cases, delayed response. 

With monitoring, IT teams receive automatic alerts for any anomalies, allowing them toAct proactively before a small problem becomes a major failure.

Security and attack prevention

Security is a priority in any IT infrastructure. 

Constant monitoring helps detect unusual behavior, such as unauthorized access attempts, malware, or unexpected changes in traffic patterns. This allows for rapid response.Rapid response to security threats and prevent potential data breaches or cyber attacks.

Cost optimization

Monitoring is also key to efficiently managing costs related to IT infrastructure. 

Help to avoid overloading systems or unnecessary use of resources, which reduces costs on hardware, energy and cloud services. In addition, by identifying problems early, Avoid costly repairs or replacements of damaged equipment.

Compliance Guarantee

In sectors such as finance, healthcare or government, compliance with data protection rules and regulations is mandatory. 

Monitoring facilitates this compliance by recording and auditing the behavior of systems, allowing Identify and resolve compliance issues before they result in penalties.

Planning and scalability

Monitoring allows you to collect historical data on system behavior and resource usage. 

This information is valuable for future infrastructure planning, because it allows scale systems efficiently and ensure the organization is prepared for growth or changes in demand.

Improving user experience

For businesses that rely on digital systems, such as websites or applications, performance and availability directly impact user experience. 

A slow or failing system affects customer satisfaction, while a well-monitored infrastructure ensures that users enjoy a smooth and uninterrupted experience.

IT monitoring solutions

Centreon, partner of IT Patagonia, is an IT monitoring platform that allows you to efficiently monitor and manage complex infrastructures. 

It offers a scalable, flexible and customizable solution to obtain complete visibility into the performance of systems, networks, applications and services.

Some specific solutions that Centreon offers for IT monitoring are:

1. Monitoring hybrid and multicloud infrastructures: allows unified visibility of all resources in a single panel. In this way, it simplifies the monitoring of systems distributed across different platforms and reduces operational complexity.

2. Proactive alerts and notifications: Allows you to configure custom alerts for critical events such as excessive CPU usage, loss of connectivity, or service outage. 

3. Integration with enterprise management systems (ITSM) such as ServiceNow or Jira, to automate incident management and improve problem resolution. 

4. Monitoring applications and services: Monitors business-critical applications and services, not just at the infrastructure level. It can also monitor databases, web servers, middleware, and other specific applications.

5. Viewing historical metrics and trends, through customized dashboards. It provides clear, real-time visibility into the status of the infrastructure, facilitating informed decision-making.

6. Plugins and extensibility: +500 plugins available that allow monitoring of specific hardware (HP, Cisco, Dell), databases (MySQL, Oracle), cloud services, and business applications (SAP, Microsoft 365). 

In this way, it can be adapted to almost any type of infrastructure and technological service.

7. Automation of monitoring of equipment and services that need to be monitoredThis is useful in large or growing environments where new elements are constantly being added to the infrastructure.

8. Real-time monitoring of the status of systems, applications and networks. At the same time, it stores historical data. It is useful for analyzing long-term performance trends and for capacity planning.

9. IoT and edge device monitoring, such as sensors, cameras or industrial devices, to have a complete view of the IT ecosystem.

10. Reporting and SLA: Generates detailed reports on system performance and availability, which is crucial for assessing compliance with SLAs (Service Level Agreements). 

Reports can be automated and sent to key stakeholders on a regular basis.

11. Scalability: can flexibly scale and grow with the infrastructure. This feature is convenient for both SMBs and large organizations with complex infrastructures.

12. Helps comply with regulatory standards, by providing a detailed history of system events and activities that may be required during audits.

Conclusion

IT infrastructure monitoring is challenging due to the diversity of technologies involved, such as servers, networks, applications, and multi-cloud and on-premises environments. 

In this process, Scalability is a key challenge, because as the infrastructure grows, monitoring solutions must adapt without losing visibility or efficiency. 

Latency and throughput of monitoring tools are also critical aspects, as they must be balanced so as not to impact the overall performance of the infrastructure.

Another major challenge is managing alerts and ensuring the security and privacy of data collected during monitoring, in compliance with current regulations. 

Integrating monitoring tools with existing systems is essential to optimize management. 

Finally, implementation and maintenance costs, along with the ability to predict and prevent failures using advanced techniques such as machine learning, are key aspects to consider in the IT monitoring strategy.

Contact us to find out How we can help you monitor your company's infrastructure.