PRTG Network Monitor (WIN-8JBRRRSCH52) |
News From PaesslerAdding third-party sensors and templates: What critical systems are you not monitoring simply because you're missing the right sensor?In our ongoing series about optimizing your PRTG monitoring setup, we've already covered how to discover and monitor all devices and how to move beyond generic sensors with vendor-specific options. If you missed these articles, we recommend checking them out before diving into this week's topic. ??Now that you've ensured complete device coverage and implemented vendor-specific sensors, it's time to take your monitoring to the next level with third-party sensors and templates. These powerful additions allow you to monitor systems not covered by built-in capabilities, providing a comprehensive view of your entire IT environment. Secure your factory floor: How Paessler PRTG helps detect anomalies in OT networks before it's too lateHave you experienced driving when your senses tell you something just isn't right? Your vehicle may display subtle signs of trouble through a gentle steering wheel vibration or an unusual engine noise. Your instincts alert you to potential problems before any dashboard warning lights activate. Best practices for monitoring and alerting that ensure IT systems operate reliablyHave you ever been jolted awake at 3 AM by numerous alerts that turned out to be mostly false positives? The worst scenario is when a critical system shuts down unexpectedly without any prior notifications. I've experienced both scenarios and neither situation brings any enjoyment. True effective monitoring requires understanding key metrics and establishing intelligent alert thresholds in order to identify important alerts and respond quickly to system outages. Move beyond generic sensors: Are you getting real insights, or just basic up/down data from your devices?When you first set up PRTG, the auto-discovery process adds generic sensors to your devices, such as standard SNMP, WMI, or Ping sensors. While these sensors provide basic monitoring capabilities, they only scratch the surface of what PRTG can do.To gain a deeper understanding of your infrastructure's health and performance, it's time to move beyond these generic sensors and implement vendor-specific monitoring solutions. NetFlow vs SNMP difference explained for IT monitoringChoosing between NetFlow and SNMP isn?t always straightforward - one tracks traffic, the other tracks devices. But when routers overload or bandwidth suddenly spikes, knowing how each protocol helps can save time and prevent blind spots. This guide breaks down their differences, use cases, and how they work better together in real-world network monitoring. The 5 biggest OT monitoring challenges and how to solve them with Paessler PRTGHave you ever faced production downtime when an unknown sensor in your OT setup stopped working unexpectedly? You likely faced management questioning after discovering an unauthorized two-hour break in your FDA-required pharmaceutical cleanroom temperature log. The fact that you're nodding along means you're in good company within the unpredictable domain of Operational Technology monitoring. ?? Discover and monitor all devices: Are you 100% sure every critical device is being monitored?You've set up PRTG and added devices to your monitoring environment. But are you sure you're monitoring everything that matters? Missing even one critical device can result in unexpected downtime, service interruptions, and those dreaded after-hours emergency calls. Let's ensure your monitoring is as comprehensive as your network. Bridging the IT/OT gap: Real-time monitoring for industrial systems made easyEver had that sinking feeling when your production line suddenly grinds to a halt, and nobody knows why? Or perhaps you've witnessed the classic finger-pointing session between IT and OT teams during an outage? "It's not our network!" says IT. "Well, the machines were working fine yesterday!" counters OT. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking, and every minute of downtime is burning money. What is bandwidth usage and how to monitor it effectivelyTrust me, I've seen this movie before - IT teams scrambling when users complain about slow apps, or worse, discovering a breach that's been lurking in their traffic patterns for weeks. These nightmares play out in companies every day, and they're expensive. One client of mine burned through $200K in just productivity losses last year because they couldn't see what was actually happening on their network. The kicker? Most orgs have the same blind spot - zero visibility into their actual traffic. Your 8-week journey to PRTG masteryWhether you're new to PRTG or looking to take your existing monitoring setup to the next level, our upcoming 8-week series will guide you through a practical, step-by-step journey to transform your PRTG implementation from basic to brilliant. Each week, we'll publish a new hands-on article that tackles a specific aspect of PRTG, designed to help you build a robust monitoring environment that delivers real value to your organization. Let's take a look at what's coming up! From SCADA to Sensors: How PRTG delivers end-to-end monitoring for OT environmentsThe modern factory floor creates an auditory blend of machinery noise and a steady flow of data. Operational technology (OT) systems no longer function in isolation from information technology (IT) systems. Instead, industrial ecosystems nowadays act as intricate networks connecting SCADA control centers with minimal temperature sensors found on refrigeration units. But with this complexity comes a challenge: What methods exist to oversee all systems while avoiding the pitfalls of using incompatible tools and creating blind spots? 4 proven ways to reduce MTTR and strengthen system reliabilityLet's face it - downtime is a nightmare on every level. And I'm not just talking about the stress of those 2AM alerts or the flood of tickets from frustrated users. I'm talking about the financial hemorrhage: $1,670 gone every single minute your systems are down. Run that calculator for an hour and you're staring at a $100K hole in your budget from lost productivity and revenue. No wonder reducing MTTR (Mean Time to Repair) has shot to the top of every IT leader's priority list - when you're bleeding cash at that rate, every minute shaved off your recovery time translates directly to money saved. Why OT monitoring is no longer optional: How to gain control of your industrial networksI still remember walking into a manufacturing plant last year where the production manager was pulling his hair out. "We keep having these random shutdowns," he told me, "and nobody can figure out why." The IT team blamed the PLCs. The operations team blamed the network. Classic finger-pointing that happens when you've got IT systems directly connected to operational machinery but no way to see how they're actually working together. This is the reality on manufacturing floors today - they look radically different than just five years ago. Synthetic monitoring: Detect website issues before your customers experience themDon't you hate finding out about website problems from angry customer emails? Been there. Nothing worse than that Monday morning message: 'Your checkout page is broken!!!' (always with multiple exclamation points). That's why I'm obsessed with synthetic monitoring. It's basically digital QA on autopilot - scripts constantly testing your site to find bugs before real humans do. I've seen it save companies thousands in lost revenue when it caught a broken payment form at 2am, hours before the morning rush. No more apologizing to customers while your competitors are stealing them away. Network audit checklist for IT infrastructure securityI've seen this scenario play out countless times - companies investing in security only after a breach has already cost them dearly. It's like frantically patching servers after ransomware has already encrypted your customer database. Reactive security isn't really security at all. Here's the truth about network audits: they're not just bureaucratic paperwork. A solid audit checklist is your blueprint for actually protecting your infrastructure against the threats that keep IT directors up at night. |
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