In this guide-

+ Background on network monitoring
+ Features and functions of network monitoring
+ How to find the best network monitoring for your organization

This short guide was created to help you understand the basics of shopping for network monitoring software and to help you choose the right network monitoring products and services for you. We do not sell any network monitoring software ourselves, so you can be assured that all of the information in this guide is independent and unbiased.

Background on network monitoring
Whether yours is a small organization or a Fortune 500 company, you need to be able to monitor the status and performance of your network. Effective network monitoring can ensure that:

- your employees are using the network for business-related purposes,
- you are protected against spam, viruses, and other security threats,
- all of your network resources (equipment, databases, etc.) are online and functioning,
- you can view historical data and identify potential trouble areas, and
- your company can plan for future network growth.

Network monitoring is a must for any company that relies on any internal or external network for any aspect of the main business functions such as sales, inventory, accounting, order fulfillment, and so on. Network monitoring products and services are vital to monitor network health and performance, help ensure maximum availability of mission-critical server applications and vital network resources, and to avoid costly down time. Effective network monitoring can have a significant, positive impact on a company's bottom line.

The good news is that regardless of the size of your organization, your budget, the complexity of your network or your technical expertise, you are most likely to find a network monitoring product or service that will work well for you. The bad news is that navigating your choices and finding the best network monitoring can be complicated, to say the least. This guide will give you some background and points of comparison so that you can cut through some of the marketing hype and find the network monitoring product that's right for your organization.

Features and functions of network monitoring
Network monitoring can be very complex and sophisticated software with hundreds of features and functions, but starting with the more obvious features will help you narrow