Products grouped under “Network Monitoring” are frequently comparable and assist businesses of all sizes in resolving operational issues. However, small businesses have different features, prices, setups, and installations than other sizes. For this reason, we match customers with the best Small Business Network Monitoring for their needs. To find the best options in the Small Business Network Monitoring area, compare product ratings based on reviews from enterprise users or get in touch with one of G2’s buying consultants.
A product must have at least ten evaluations written by small business reviewers to be eligible for inclusion in the Small Business Network Monitoring Software category and meet the requirements for inclusion in the Network Monitoring Software category.
By putting a good network management system in place, system administrators may be provided with the tools necessary to maintain the company network without a lot of manual labor. The complex network is to be managed from the data center to the network edge through integrated wired and wireless management capabilities, automatic warnings for network concerns, and interoperability with devices from many manufacturers. Since you consider the software alternatives that can meet your needs, be careful, as not all network management solutions will necessarily have all of these characteristics of best network monitoring tools helpful for small businesses.
Table of Contents
What is network management software?
A network management system, a software or collection of applications that also performs several crucial duties, allows network engineers to control a network’s components inside a more comprehensive network management framework. A business network’s wired and wireless devices are identified, set up, monitored, updated, and Troubleshoot by an NMS. The performance data gathered from each network component is then shown by a system management control program, enabling network engineers to make adjustments as necessary.
Through APIs or a protocol like NetFlow, a de facto industry standard created by Cisco that enables NetFlow-enabled routers to communicate traffic and performance data, network element suppliers make their performance data accessible to NMS software.
Network engineers use a network management system for several tasks, including:
Monitor performance:
An NMS can offer the visibility required to ascertain if network parts are performing correctly by gathering operational metrics through several physical taps, software agents, or Simple Network Management Protocol interfaces.
Device detection:
Is done via a network management system, ensuring the devices are identified and set up correctly.
Performance data:
Indicators such as bandwidth usage, packet loss, latency, availability, and uptime of routers, switches, and other network components are tracked by an NMS.
Enable notifications:
An NMS will notify administrators of any performance concerns before a system interruption.
What functions do network management systems perform?
Network management systems gather information from client devices, switches, and related network hardware. They also provide network administrators complete control over how those devices perform and interact with one another.
Data from these devices are utilized to proactively identify performance issues, monitor security, and segmentation, and expedite troubleshooting.
What kind of devices may be managed by a network management system?
Numerous network management technologies were initially designed for LAN administration. With the development of complex and varied corporate networks, these management plans improved support for SD-WAN, security, and IoT.
The most effective solutions combine hardware and sensors to offer a single picture of network traffic. This makes it easier for IT to monitor performance issues and secure and resolve them.
How Does Network Management Software Work?
The three primary areas of attention are shown below.
Network administration:
The ability to monitor and register network resources, such as controlling hubs, servers, routers, switches, and transmission lines, is provided by the network administration. More specifically, network management software for small businesses, distributed software applications, and network operating systems that the users utilize helps to check on the program’s functioning and upgrade it when necessary.
Network operation:
This ensures all network operations are carried out more efficiently and effectively to achieve the intended goals. It works to monitor daily actions closely and immediately address any problems before users ever become aware of them.
Network maintenance: makes ensuring that the resources on the network are promptly updated and fixed regularly. To ensure preventative actions, it also helps to work together with the network administrators and to communicate often.
Network provisioning: enables the configuration of network resources to meet the needs of a particular service. Increasing the specifications, for instance, to support many users
Network management software’s features
Provisioning:
The network managers can add new devices to the current network environment through the provisioning process. By automating this process, the cost is reduced, the risk of human mistakes is reduced, and the process is mitigated.
Mapping:
The program can detect the features of the necessary network thanks to mapping. Nodes in the network, their potential, performance, connection, performance attributes, etc., are a few of the aspects that have been recognized.
Monitoring:
This lets you monitor the network for problems and offers ideas for improvements. The program keeps track of network device warnings to get notifications. This feature looks for network faults such as poor performance, virus interference, downed nodes, etc.
Why You Should Consider Network Management Services for Your Business
If your IT staff lacks the resources to guarantee that your network is operating safely and effectively, network management services are another option. As complexity rises and IT, departments are under financial pressure to deliver high levels of infrastructure performance, availability, and security, delivering reliable network management at consistent service levels is crucial. If you have a small amount of IT staff, they should concentrate on projects that increase your revenue.
Remember that downtime is quite expensive as well. Is going it alone with your IT investments worthwhile? The possibility of downtime looms if you need more internal resources to run network management software for small businesses.
Best network management softwares for small businesses
ManageEngine OpManager
ManageEngine OpManager is a comprehensive network management software for small businesses that assists major businesses, service providers, and SMEs in successfully and economically managing their data centers and IT infrastructure. It provides:
- IP address management.
- Configuration management.
- Firewall log management.
- Traffic analysis.
- Factual and virtual server monitoring.
- Network performance monitoring.
It offers a business perspective, email- and SMS-based notifications, automated workflows, tailored reports, and a combined snapshot view.
NinjaOne
Most effective for management and monitoring remotely. MSPs and IT departments may use it as a single platform for remote monitoring and administration.
With capabilities for endpoint management, patch management, backup, service desk, remote access, software deployment, etc., NinjaOne is a cloud-based platform for remote monitoring and management. It offers efficient yet essential tools. It makes your regulated environment apparent.
Auvik
Auvik’s software automates and simplifies network administration and monitoring to provide total network visibility and control.
N-central
Using the N-able N-central remote monitoring and management platform, controlling intricate IT networks is made simple.
The LogicMonitor
LogicMonitor is a program for network analysis and monitoring without agents. The platform has received certification to the highest security requirements, including SOC2 Type 2 and ISO/IEC 27001:2013.
Over 2000 pre-configured integrations, which make it simple for IT managers to implement, administer, and conduct root cause analyses for the complete IT infrastructure, are one of its distinctive advantages.
TotalView by PathSolutions
For business networks, VARs, and MSPs, TotalView tracks and investigates network, voice/UC/Video, and cloud issues.
NG Firewall
A cloud-based system including capabilities for content filtering, user administration, network security, and performance enhancement.
Icinga software
The Icinga software consists of six modules covering every element of monitoring the complete distributed infrastructure. Both local infrastructure and cloud-based infrastructure are monitored by it.
A centralized infrastructure console monitors the devices and network for performance and availability problems. It also generates metrics to report to the administrators. Its unique skill is the ability to automate monitoring operations, which reduces human error and speeds up replies to clear bottlenecks.
NMIS
You need a network monitoring system with all the features, plus automation, enormous scale, straightforward pricing, and easy integration.
BackBox
Network automation technology assists companies in managing all network device settings, OS updates, backups, and compliance.
US
Businesses can discover problems and arrange firmware upgrades across numerous devices using network management software for small businesses.
ThousandEyes
Businesses may observe and validate the performance of network-based services using a platform for monitoring the digital experience.
ScienceLogic
Pre-integrated monitoring and management solutions are appropriate for businesses with spread operations and service providers.
Client 2hO
An always-on, mesh-based, completely transparent, and secure remote network that connects your gadgets to you wherever you are.
BeyondEdge SD-LAN
A LAN’s design, construction, and operation are all focused on being made simpler by the BeyondEdge SD-LAN, a completely automated network solution.
Zabbix
To monitor all devices, large-scale networks and SMBs perform well.
Zabbix is unique since it is open-source and free software. With sophisticated capabilities like high availability, distributed monitoring, cloud, and on-premises network, it enables enterprise-level monitoring as a free platform.
Conclusion
As previously indicated, network management software for small businesses may make it simpler for IT and network managers to keep an eye on and manage network equipment. Small networks will benefit from its primary features, such as monitoring, analysis, and alarms, while medium-sized networks will benefit from its automatic discovery, mapping, inventory, and troubleshooting capabilities.