In 2023, according to the 12th annual Cost of Data Breach Study by the Ponemon Institute, data breaches have shown an upward trend, with the average size of a breach increasing by 1.8% to encompass over 24,000 records. The financial repercussions of each breach are substantial, with an average cost of approximately $3.62 million. In light of these escalating losses, the emphasis on securing networks from cyberattacks has never been more crucial.
What Is Real-Time Monitoring?
Real-time monitoring is a practice that involves the use of applications and tools to continually capture and record snapshots of a network’s performance. Organizations utilize real-time monitoring to track network activities, enhance security, and promptly identify potential issues as they emerge. This proactive approach is essential for businesses of all sizes.
The Benefits of Real-Time Monitoring
Implementing real-time network monitoring offers several advantages, especially for small business owners:
- Enhanced Network Security
Network security should be a paramount concern for any business. Real-time monitoring aids in maintaining security compliance by swiftly identifying and resolving security issues, such as unusual or suspicious traffic, unauthorized access attempts, or cyber threats.
- Optimized Network Performance
The success of your business can be directly linked to network performance. Real-time monitoring helps uncover performance glitches and inefficiencies, enabling businesses to optimize their servers and prevent issues like downtime, bandwidth overload, and slow loading times.
- Faster Incident Response
Real-time monitoring provides immediate alerts, facilitating faster incident response. Rapid resolution of incidents, whether major or minor, is crucial to minimize losses and maintain business continuity.
- Improved Employee Productivity
Monitoring network performance in real-time can boost employee productivity by optimizing network efficiency. This allows teams to work on projects, collaborate, and transfer data more effectively, ultimately leading to improved productivity.
- Cost Savings
Real-time monitoring helps businesses gain a clear understanding of their network usage, leading to cost savings by ensuring the right technology and support are in place. An optimized network can also boost revenue, particularly for e-commerce businesses.
Implementing Real-Time Network Monitoring
To harness the benefits of real-time network monitoring, businesses can use it to enhance data security, network performance, employee productivity, customer satisfaction, and reputation. Various monitoring applications, software, and services are available to cater to specific business needs.
Selecting the right tools and resources for real-time monitoring involves comparing and vetting companies, considering what your business truly requires, and choosing reputable providers. Cloud providers often offer such services and can provide insights into what is normal for your business.
While no monitoring tool is foolproof, it’s advisable to use multiple tools to monitor and set different alert levels for various activities. A practical approach is to start with a basic monitoring solution and expand over time.