What is Proactive Monitoring?

Proactive monitoring has been around for years, but it has more recently gained popularity with the rise of managed IT. Proactive monitoring is a method to identify potential problems before they occur and disrupt operations.

Managed IT services offer proactive monitoring as part of their service packages. This service continuously monitors computer networks to detect threats and issues that may affect your company’s performance.
Think of proactive monitoring as a form of preventive maintenance – the process of monitoring, reviewing and repairing IT infrastructures before they fail or impact performance and efficiency. Proactive monitoring helps ensure the availability of critical systems, increases the reliability of IT infrastructures, and decreases downtime.

Many businesses do not have the resources to dedicate to managing their IT infrastructure 24/7/365. This shortfall often leads to bad habits like ignoring problem indicators or waiting until after a failure occurs to address issues, leading to unnecessary time spent troubleshooting problems, lost productivity, and potential revenue loss. Automated monitoring of your network 24/7/365 for problem indicators such as slow server speeds, failed backups, high CPU utilization, low disk space, etc, allows you to get notified when potential issues occur so they can be addressed before they become critical problems.

Proactive monitoring is a broad term for a number of different IT maintenance tasks. The best example of proactive monitoring is software patching.

Patching is the process of updating software (including operating systems and applications) to fix security vulnerabilities, improve performance, and add new features.

One famous example is the WannaCry ransomware that hit organizations in May 2017. WannaCry exploited a vulnerability in Windows, which was patched by Microsoft on March 14th — almost two months before WannaCry started spreading. If organizations had applied that patch, they would have avoided being affected by WannaCry.

However, many organizations didn’t apply that patch because they were focused on fixing problems only after they became apparent — rather than proactively identifying and fixing potential risks before they became actual issues.

Other types of proactive monitoring solutions to consider include

If your network allows users to access sensitive information remotely, it can be a prime target for a data breach. Network monitoring identifies vulnerabilities and helps you and your employees keep your network as secure as possible.

A vulnerability assessment identifies security gaps in your organization’s systems and determines how attackers might use those holes to gain access to data.

Audits identify areas where you should improve security processes and procedures related to hardware, software, compliance and other factors.

Cybersecurity breaches are more likely when a network has vulnerabilities businesses face threats from different types of cyberattacks. One of these types of attacks is called Ransomware. Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts a user’s data, preventing them from accessing it. The attacker then demands a ransom to be paid to decrypt the user’s files. Ransomware attacks are rapidly becoming the most common type of cyber attack and are one of the biggest threats to SMBs today.

The proactive monitoring process includes working with a business’ team members to actively seek potential issues before they impact business operations. This includes security alerts and error messages from your servers and workstations, and monitoring backups to ensure they are actually working.

In addition to routine monitoring, managed service providers (MSPs) and company employees should collaborate to perform regular audits of systems and infrastructure. The goal of these audits is to identify security vulnerabilities and areas for improvement, such as outdated software, server misconfigurations, or processes that aren’t being followed correctly. These types of vulnerabilities can make it easier for hackers to break into a network and gain access to critical systems.

There are several reasons why Proactive Monitoring is better than traditional IT support alone, including:
Improved performance: Your network will run more efficiently without the threat of looming downtime hanging over your head.

Better security: Working collaboratively with your provider, you may avoid potential data breaches caused by unforeseen vulnerabilities in your network.
Lower costs: If your systems are running smoothly, you won’t waste money dealing with crises as they arise or paying for emergency services.

The proactive monitoring process includes working with a business’ team members to actively seek potential issues before they impact business operations. This includes security alerts and error messages from your servers and workstations, and monitoring backups to ensure they are actually working.

In addition to routine monitoring, managed service providers (MSPs) and company employees should collaborate to perform regular audits of systems and infrastructure. The goal of these audits is to identify security vulnerabilities and areas for improvement, such as outdated software, server misconfigurations, or processes that aren’t being followed correctly. These types of vulnerabilities can make it easier for hackers to break into a network and gain access to critical systems.

So what is proactive monitoring and how can it help your business? When done correctly, proactive monitoring keeps your IT up and running, prevents issues from happening and saves you money in the long run. Subscribe to SkyViewTek’s proactive monitoring and IT support services and gain all of the benefits, including a partnership with us to create a collaborative cyber security plan designed to meet the needs of your business and the potential types of cyber attacks you could face. SkyViewTek is an IT management and cyber security firm that offers services to businesses in the Greater Philadelphia area and beyond. Our experienced, highly qualified professionals provide a wide range of IT services, such as managed services, computer and server maintenance, cyber security, and more. We also specialize in ensuring that your business is IT compliant with third party organizations, such as HIPAA and PCI. For more information, contact us today.