5 Best Cloud-Based Monitoring Tools

Rapid advancements in technology have welcomed the rise of cloud computing. This has changed how we access and manage IT resources, shifting the paradigm to more cloud-based management and monitoring. However, with so many moving parts, maintaining complete visibility and control can be a challenge. This is the hurdle that cloud-based monitoring tools are trying to overcome.

What is a cloud-based monitoring tool?

Managing applications and resources across different servers and data centers can be complex. This is where cloud-based monitoring tools step in. These monitoring solutions provide IT technicians and MSPs with a centralized platform to collect, analyze, and visualize data collected from their IT environments using a cloud-based tool. This not only provides insight into IT environments but also allows administrators to address potential IT issues before they impact business operations.

An IT monitoring solution requires a multi-pronged approach to provide visibility into a cloud-based infrastructure and all of its components. A cloud-based IT management solution should be able to support the optimal performance of each component of your IT environment. These tools are in place to monitor components and endpoints like virtual machines, the applications installed on devices, databases, and network performance. Additionally, cloud-based monitoring tools offer real-time insights, enabling users to optimize resource allocation and troubleshoot problems efficiently.

In fact, a recent downtime survey revealed that 56% of businesses reported a significant impact on revenue due to technology downtime. While many factors may have played a role in those outages, cloud-based monitoring can help mitigate those risks. This is especially important as you consider the range of organizations that can benefit from such solutions. Whether you’re a small managed service provider or a medium-sized organization seeking an IT solution, choosing the right cloud-based monitoring tool is crucial. With so many options available, the process can feel overwhelming. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the best cloud-based monitoring tools on the market to guide you.

 

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Table of Contents

Best cloud-based monitoring tools

1. NinjaOne
2. SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor
3. Zabbix
4. New Relic
5. PRTG Network Monitor

• Final Scores

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What to look for in a cloud-based monitoring tool?

Before we dive into your options, let’s first see what capabilities cloud-based monitoring software should have. Here are five key things to help you with your search:

1. Comprehensiveness

Your chosen cloud-based management tool should provide a broad and detailed view of your whole cloud-based IT infrastructure. This includes servers, databases, applications, network performance, and security components. It should provide a holistic view by collecting metrics across the most important aspects of the IT environment.

2. Scalability and flexibility

A cloud-based monitoring tool should adapt to the complexities of a dynamic cloud environment. Moreover, a good cloud-based monitoring solution can adapt to a growing cloud and on-premise infrastructure. This encompasses its ability to scale when receiving increasing volumes of data as you add more resources and endpoints.

3. Patch management

Your cloud-based monitoring tool should integrate directly with your patch management system. This will allow a streamlined approach to patch deployment, ensuring the security of your endpoints and reducing the time it takes to resolve vulnerabilities in your IT infrastructure.

4. Real-time monitoring

A great endpoint management solution offers comprehensive and continuous IT infrastructure monitoring. IT monitoring solutions give users the tools they need to ensure the optimal health and performance of your IT environment. This is done by real-time monitoring to guarantee early detection and resolution of any potential issues. Real-time monitoring empowers you to maintain overall health and prevent downtime proactively.

5. Reliable alert system

A dependable cloud-based management tool has an advantage in robust endpoint monitoring, which becomes more valuable with reliable alerts and notifications. These notifications should be customizable so unnecessary alerts won’t bombard you. Also, a multi-channel alert system is preferable to ensure that the right parties are notified in cases of issues. Additionally, these alerts should contain actionable insights to determine the critical issues and the steps to take to resolve them.

These are the key features of a great cloud-based monitoring tool. Let’s now examine the top 5 cloud-based monitoring tools and how they compare against the aforementioned criteria.

5 tips for choosing the best cloud-based monitoring tool

Here are some tips to help you narrow your search for cloud-based monitoring tools and better understand what truly aligns with your IT requirements:

1. Your monitoring needs

Take note of the most crucial aspects your organization needs to monitor on your client’s IT infrastructure. Choose a cloud-based monitoring tool that provides coverage over these components that you consider the most important.

2. Pricing that fits your financial constraints

When searching for a cloud-based monitoring tool, look for a solution that caters to your current budget. Choose the one that offers flexible pricing models tailored to your organization.

3. Your organization’s future growth

For growing MSPs and IT teams, you should consider your current and future needs, and choose a cloud-based monitoring tool that can scale with your business.

4. Ease of use

Nothing beats an IT solution that makes your workflow easier and more efficient. Take advantage of a cloud-based monitoring tool with less complexity to help your team decrease their time onboarding and focus on more essential tasks.

5. Reliable support

Monitoring tools are crucial in maintaining uptime and troubleshooting issues. You need a provider that’s proven to have reliable customer support in case you encounter some difficulty using their service. Aside from that, choose a service that offers free unlimited onboarding and training to reduce the learning curve for your team.

 

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The top 5 best cloud-based monitoring tools

All G2 & Capterra ratings data as of March 2024.

1. NinjaOne

NinjaOne is a multi-awarded remote monitoring and management suite with features perfect for growing managed service providers (MSPs), small businesses, or enterprises. This IT monitoring solution offers comprehensive support for Windows, MacOS, and Linux endpoints. NinjaOne also boasts superior application deployment and management solutions, all within a centralized tool. Simplifying complex IT tasks is easy using NinjaOne’s IT automation features, which help reduce manual workloads and streamline processes.

Strengths of NinjaOne

• Endpoint management. NinjaOne’s built-in endpoint management features offer functionality built for how IT teams work—regardless of size. NinjaOne boasts a suite of endpoint management features, such as device monitoring and performance management, designed to streamline operations and enhance overall IT efficiency. As a top-rated endpoint management solution, NinjaOne empowers MSPs and IT teams to navigate the complexities of modern IT environments.
• Comprehensive visibility. NinjaOne’s “single pane of glass” software gives IT teams and technicians an extensive overview of their entire cloud-based IT infrastructure. This centralized platform allows you to monitor every component, ensuring you get the most out of the features you pay for.
• Intuitive interface. A cloud-based monitoring solution needs a simplified user interface so that it’s easy for IT teams of any skill level to use. This provides users with less time to learn the platform and more time to start their IT tasks immediately. While every new software comes with a small learning curve, NinjaOne aims to minimize onboarding time with a professional-grade but user-friendly interface.
• Scalability. Cloud environments are dynamic, and IT infrastructures can grow rapidly. That’s why NinjaOne is built with scalability in mind. NinjaOne seamlessly adapts to your needs, scaling effortlessly to handle increasing workloads without sacrificing performance.
• Remote monitoring and alerting. NinjaOne’s standout performance in remote monitoring and alerting helps MSPs to proactively identify IT issues before they escalate. It provides real-time insights and customizable notifications so MSPs can address problems the fastest way possible. Not only that, NinjaOne’s remote monitoring eases the burden of IT teams by reducing instances of on-site fixes – minimizing downtime for clients. This empowers technicians to deploy patches, configure systems, and troubleshoot problems efficiently, all from a centralized location.

Who is NinjaOne best for?

NinjaOnes’s extensive support for MSPs and IT teams of any size makes it a powerful competitor in the cloud-based monitoring landscape. Growing MSPs may have a very limited time for processes such as onboarding and training their team. NinjaOne addresses this challenge with free unlimited onboarding and training.

In fact, NinjaOne’s MSP ROI survey reveals that 92% of its users were already fully operational in under a month. The report also shows that it only took under six hours to onboard a new technician for 89% of its users. From the start, NinjaOne is dedicated to saving MSPs’ time and increasing their productivity.

NinjaOne reviews on G2

NinjaOne reviews on Capterra

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2. SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor

SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor is a comprehensive monitoring tool marketed to IT professionals and network administrators. It helps them manage network infrastructure more efficiently.

Use Case

This cloud-based monitoring solution is marketed to medium- to large-scale IT organizations and MSPs that need real-time visibility and control over their on-premises, cloud, and hybrid network environments.

Features

• User-friendly approach to network management
• Straightforward installation for those who have IT expertise

Drawbacks

• Lack of app integration to other essential products and services
• The complex interface may overwhelm new technicians

SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor reviews on G2

SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor reviews on Capterra

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3. Zabbix

Zabbix is an enterprise-class, all-in-one open-source solution for MSPs and IT administrators to monitor their IT environment on-premise or in the cloud.

Use case

This IT solution covers small environments up to established IT teams that require a versatile and dependable monitoring solution. They could be MSPs or IT administrators who are managing environments ranging from small to large scale.

Features

• Integrates with Amazon CloudWatch to gather metrics
• A trusted monitoring tool for virtual machines

Drawbacks

• Limited scalability
• Challenging setup process

Zabbix reviews on G2

Zabbix reviews on Capterra

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4. New Relic

New Relic is one of the more recent IT solutions on the market. It offers monitoring tools that help IT administrators and MSPs to identify and troubleshoot IT infrastructure issues.

Use case

This monitoring software is used by companies and organizations with dynamic, cloud-based IT environments that require real-time performance insights.

Features

• A customizable dashboard that gives MSPs more control over the management of their IT environment
• Can execute SQL query to ensure databases’ optimal performance

Drawbacks

• Its mobile app companion may be a handy tool for IT administrators, but the application itself could be improved.
• The user interface may present a challenging learning curve for some users

New Relic reviews on G2

New Relic reviews on Capterra

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5. PRTG Network Monitor

PRTG Network Monitor is an integrated IT solution that provides real-time monitoring and analysis of network performance on-premises and in the cloud.

Use case

The platform is an ideal fit for small and medium environments that want to keep an eye on all systems, devices, traffic, and more of their entire IT infrastructure.

Features

• Its custom maps and dashboard are key features
• Offers on-premise installation for more control over data, configuration, and updates

Drawbacks

• The user interface can be a bit overwhelming, especially for new users
• While the pricing is transparent, it can get costly since users have to purchase a license based on the amount of nodes to be monitored

PRTG Network Monitor reviews on G2

PRTG Network Monitor reviews on Capterra

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Comparison of cloud-based monitoring tools (G2)

Comparison of cloud-based monitoring tools (Capterra)