The goal of any great cloud monitoring tool is to give you a bird’s eye view of your system and its digital assets so that you can potentially improve user experiences. Unfortunately, many organizations struggle to realize the extent of functionality of their tools, leading to a bloated budget with many unused applications. To help you make a more informed decision, this pricing guide details the different factors that contribute to overall cloud monitoring software cost, along with the potential hidden costs of cloud monitoring.
A quick recap on cloud monitoring:
- Comprises different tools that help you manage, monitor, and evaluate the performance of your cloud infrastructure, architecture, services, and applications.
- Can provide efficient IT automation.
- Helps identify essential trends in user activity.
- Detects potential problems that may impact operations.
- Offers robust health & vulnerability management tools.
While various cloud monitoring tools exist in the market today, you should find a cloud monitoring solution that allows you to achieve your business goals as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible.
What is the cost of cloud monitoring?
Like any IT solution, it is important to understand your baselines, business requirements, and goals before considering cost optimizations. Understanding what your organization truly needs allows you to estimate your costs and intelligently prune unnecessary tools.
Once you have established your organization’s cloud monitoring needs, you can effectively weigh the various aspects that determine the price of cloud monitoring software. Some of these factors that can influence your cloud monitoring software cost include:
Scale and complexity of your IT infrastructure
As cloud services continue to impact how organizations function and thrive in the digital world, it has become increasingly necessary for them to design a scalable IT infrastructure. When considering the overall cloud monitoring software price, it is a good idea to consider potentially increasing workloads and user bases.
Range of features and customization options
While it is important to have the necessary tools to keep track of your organization’s performance, detect issues, and troubleshoot in real time, it is equally necessary for you to know which features you truly need. Ask your vendor about any native tools that are part of their software and whether there are customization options.
Licensing models
Cloud monitoring software is typically subscription-based because of its flexibility and lower fees. Keep in mind that an effective solution has to proactively monitor the performance and security of your cloud environments. Not only does a subscription-based license help you achieve this every month, but it also provides you with the flexibility and ongoing maintenance and support you need.
Vendor reputation and support services
Ensuring the smooth operation of your cloud infrastructure helps you maintain a competitive advantage, so you need to choose the right vendor to help you achieve your company goals. One of the best ways to achieve this is to review several different vendors and their offered functionalities and conduct a vendor risk assessment. Aside from their reputation and offerings, look for a vendor that also provides great customer support.
Pricing models for cloud monitoring software
While dozens of variables can determine the most profitable pricing model for your organization, they can be generally lumped into four categories:
- The flat rate charges all customers the same amount regardless of usage or features.
- Tiered pricing gives companies the flexibility they need to upgrade their solutions as needed.
- The per-user pricing charges organizations for each user that uses their software.
- Per-feature pricing allows companies to pay for only the features they need.
- Per-device pricing bills your organization for every device that the software is installed in.
Comparison of common pricing strategies
Let’s dive deeper into their differences:
| Flat-rate pricing | Tiered pricing | Per-user pricing | Per-feature pricing | Per-device pricing | |
| Pros | You know exactly the features available to you. | Gives you the freedom to build your features as your company grows | Allows business members to have equal access to the features | You only pay for the functionality that you need at any specific time | Easy to add and change devices as your company evolves |
| Cons | Limited customer diversity | There is a possibility you may become overwhelmed with all the available tools | May limit the growth of the organization since you have to pay for each additional user | Requires a lot of research to optimize the solution with the right features | Can become overwhelming without a proper customer support team. |
Understanding the fine print: Hidden costs and potential escalations
None of these pricing models consider the human aspect of your company. For example, defining what features or usage capabilities would most benefit your employees may be difficult.
There is also the issue of training and support. Some cloud monitoring vendors may not provide the support you need. Still, others, like NinjaOne, work closely with you to ensure that all tools within your cloud monitoring software are optimized and functioning properly. In fact, NinjaOne has been consistently ranked #1 for its world-class customer support.
Budgeting for cloud monitoring solutions
Choosing a cloud management solution can be overwhelming. Thankfully, there are some best practices for avoiding overspending and underutilizing resources.
- Have a clear vision of what you want to achieve with your software
- Conduct a vendor risk assessment
- Audit your resources regularly and identify unused or underutilized tools
- Match your computing resources with your actual needs
- Consider your vendor as a long-term partner
Lastly, it is a good idea to review your cloud IT budget regularly. Consider revisiting your budget every so often with key stakeholders to evaluate performance metrics and determine any needed changes. During these reviews, look at your current return on investment and adjust your budget as needed to align with your changing business priorities.
Cost-effective cloud monitoring software
Effective budgeting for your software does mean just setting aside a one-time fee. Rather, it’s a process that you must constantly review, especially as your business continues to expand and evolve.
Check out NinjaOne’s remote monitoring and management software that monitors endpoint devices through the cloud in a single pane of glass. You can schedule a free trial or watch a demo for more information.
