The ABCs of IT Infrastructure Monitoring (ITIM)—the Letter I is for Inventory of Assets. "Doing inventory" is probably one phrase retail and hospitality workers loathe. For many workers in these jobs, physically counting items can sometimes be an overnight job. For others in similar positions, it can make for an arduous all-day task while tending to customers' needs. However, despite the time it takes, it is still essential. How else will managers know which items to order for their store?

135,000 is the average number of endpoint devices connected to an enterprise network. The estimate is in a joint report from Adaptiva and the Ponemon Institute, along with several other surprising statistics: A common challenge facing IT professionals is gaining insight into the devices connected to their network. With so many devices being used by employees, managers and IT workers, a solution to categorize and analyze these devices in one spot is essential.

Imagine starting your car in the morning and having your attention captured by a little red check engine light. After expressing frustration in your own unique way, your next objective is to determine why this little light has brought darkness to your morning. Your owner's manual clearly outlines how to operate and routinely maintain your vehicle, but all you know about this little light is that you’ll soon be meeting your local mechanic.

There is no question that wireless networks are taking over. Offices may still have Ethernet cables to each cubicle, but usually, they go unused. Wi-Fi is the new LAN. And so many devices, tablets, smartphones and even some laptop-type devices are now wireless only.

It is no surprise that cybercriminals are after the money, and banks have plenty lying around. They also have gobs of data, making banks irresistible to hackers who have a field day attacking complex banking IT systems flush with more connections than a movie agent. Here are a few recent facts to know.

Computer marketers and analysts never saw a term they didn’t want to change. Not leaving well enough alone with the tried and true "network monitoring," more folks have taken to using the term "infrastructure monitoring." That term is so general as to have little meaning. Afterall, what infrastructure are we talking about? Bridges, roads, servers and NICs? Very confusing.

Try to explain your network topology to a stranger in a bar and you’ll get a blank stare—the same look your CEO would give. Show that CEO a map, report or even your network monitoring dashboard, and recognition will creep across their face.

Well, we’re here to change that. Progress WhatsUp Gold release 2022.1, available as of October 12, 2022, offers users even more built-in infrastructure discovery and monitoring power, available for immediate use. It’s now even easier for you to: It’s been a banner year for WhatsUp Gold users. Packed with enhancements, WhatsUp Gold 2022.1 layers onto the powerful improvements already released in 2022.0 last March.

Network monitoring is ideal for getting a real-time view of your connected environment, and with reports, you can look back in time too. Logs are key to this rear-view mirror look, as they contain all the data for all the elements you are monitoring. But without network log archiving, you can only look back so far. Did you know that according to an IBM/Ponemon study, it takes an average of 287 days to discover and contain a data breach?

Network monitoring is the key to efficient, reliable operation, as well as performance and security. The deeper and more broadly you can monitor (yes, you want to do both), the better your network operates. What if you could combine a superstar in network infrastructure monitoring with the champion of network flow monitoring? You can. Progress, owner of WhatsUp Gold, recently acquired Kemp and their market-leading Flowmon solution.