What are the current trends and challenges in network monitoring and how do you adapt to them?

2 Automation and AI

Another trend in network monitoring is the adoption of automation and AI technologies, which can help network administrators and engineers to streamline their workflows, reduce manual errors, and enhance network performance and security. Automation and AI can help with tasks such as network configuration, troubleshooting, anomaly detection, root cause analysis, and remediation. To adapt to this trend, you need to leverage network monitoring tools that can integrate with automation and AI platforms, such as those that offer scripting, orchestration, machine learning, and predictive analytics capabilities. You also need to update your network monitoring policies and procedures to incorporate automation and AI best practices.

3 IoT and edge computing

A third trend in network monitoring is the emergence of IoT and edge computing, which involve the deployment of network-connected devices and applications at the edge of the network, closer to the data sources and users. This poses new challenges for network monitoring, such as complexity, diversity, security, and latency. To adapt to this trend, you need to use network monitoring tools that can support IoT and edge computing, such as those that offer edge visibility, device management, IoT protocol support, and edge analytics. You also need to define your network monitoring objectives and requirements for IoT and edge computing scenarios.

4 Security and compliance

A fourth trend in network monitoring is the increasing importance of security and compliance, as network threats and regulations become more sophisticated and stringent. This requires network administrators and engineers to monitor not only the performance and availability of their network infrastructure, but also the security and compliance of their network data and operations. To adapt to this trend, you need to use network monitoring tools that can enhance your network security and compliance, such as those that offer encryption, authentication, audit logging, alerting, and reporting features. You also need to align your network monitoring practices with your network security and compliance policies and standards.

5 User experience and business outcomes

A fifth trend in network monitoring is the shift from a technical focus to a user-centric and business-oriented focus, where network monitoring is not only about measuring network parameters, but also about assessing how the network impacts the user experience and the business outcomes. This requires network administrators and engineers to monitor not only the network infrastructure, but also the network services and applications that run on it. To adapt to this trend, you need to use network monitoring tools that can measure user experience and business outcomes, such as those that offer end-user monitoring, application performance monitoring, service level monitoring, and business value dashboards. You also need to communicate your network monitoring results and insights to your stakeholders and customers in a clear and meaningful way.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?