In order to properly capture, review and forecast network performance, you need to use analytics. Numerous variables should be monitored as part of the network management analytics data including response time, uptime, route analytics, intrusion attempts, and device availability. For the best form of network management, consider having another metric added – the amount of work that your network management system is tracking.

Network management systems (NMS) have a unique opportunity to view the entire IT enterprise from a macro level. If the network management system is able to capture analytics data such as traffic, devices, applications, routing, status, as well as the overall volume on the network, you can gain valuable insight into your current network state as well as predict potential issues before they become problems.

For example, a spike in the volume of devices monitored for a particular hub or switch can affect the network behavior. The same could happen with an increase in the use of a particular application that has significant data traffic.

With the right analytic indicators, your NMS can alert you before there is any significant network degradation.

Alternately, if certain devices or applications have declined in traffic or use, your NMS could advise you that there is more availability in certain areas that could allow routing to be adjusted and take advantage of the additional space. Analytics can be overwhelming when there is so much data to disseminate. However with the right network analytics tools in place, network data can become your best source for overall systems management.