Network Monitoring and Security

Web site monitoring can become a critical issue as the size of your network grows and as your customer base expands.

Content must be about network monitoring and network security issues as well as covering the varied aspects of website monitoring. Editorial comment about web site monitoring is OK as well as opinion and research information in the area of network security. Resources and links to sites dealing with monitoring and security are also fine. Do NOT forget to review these guidelines.

Simple LANs rarely need extensive monitoring. It quickly becomes obvious if a connection or file server fails. As a LAN expands in to a larger, more complex topography, the issues depend on the functions the network provides. High-speed internal networks using multiple large servers and interlinking hundreds of PCs or work stations, normally have dedicated staff to do network and systems operations and monitoring.

Once a LAN requires access to or from the outside, the need for monitoring and the type of monitoring changes. At this point, web services may be offered through an internet connection. Other connections from the outside may be through dialup RAS servers or dedicated lines. How a business goes about providing network security and network monitoring can make the difference between success and failure. Internal monitoring may no longer be sufficient to meet the growing network’s needs. Depending on the resources potentially available on the network, high level security for some or all parts of the network may be required. Network security consultants from the outside the organization can often provide valuable assistance in both evaluating the needs and requirements and recommending or even assisting in the implementation and testing of network security mechanisms and software.

Monitoring of network functions can often be, in part, contracted out to an external monitoring service. Such services can be highly effective, both in cost and quality, since certain aspects of the network’s internet functioning are more easily monitored externally. Firewall, email, DNS and FTP can often be more reliable monitored by external specialized web site monitoring companies. Internet connectivity is another major concern for large networks. Again, this is easier done by services external to network being monitored.

Most of the websites on the internet use hosting services, rather than their own servers. While many sites are on dedicated servers, generally these are actually in data centers and not under the direct physical control of the website owner. Most also use outsourced server management or rely on the data center to manage even dedicated servers. Assuming these servers are critical to the businesses success, an external website monitoring service may be absolutely essential both to provide a rapid alert and to monitor the quality of outsourced or third-party server management.

Technology is imperfect. Problems will always occur. Parts fail, networks go down, data centers come under attack. Minimizing these kinds of problems and staying on top of them can be greatly aided through using appropriate levels of both internal and external network monitoring.