Enterprise Mobility
Article | June 15, 2023
There is a fundamental shift in demand for core network services from enterprise customers, away from MPLS and private leased circuits to fixed broadband, Ethernet VPN, and DIA. Omdia forecasts that through 2026, the increase in revenue from fixed broadband, Ethernet VPN and DIA will be insufficient to make up for the decline in revenue from MPLS and private leased circuits.
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Unified Communications, Network Security
Article | July 10, 2023
Discover key network performance metrics to enhance user experience. Explore in-depth latency, throughput, jitter, packet loss, VOIP quality, and MOS score to optimize network performance analysis.
Contents
1. Importance of Network Performance Metrics for Performance Analysis
2. Critical Key Network Performance Metrics to Monitor
2.1 Latency
2.2 Throughput
2.3 Jitter
2.4 Packet Loss
2.5 VOIP Qualiy
2.6 MOS Score
3. Steps to Monitor and Measure Network Performance
4. Significance of Monitoring Metrics in Network Troubleshooting
4.1 Provides Network Visibility
4.2 Prevents Network Downtime
4.3 Observe Bandwidth Usage
5. Overcome Monitoring Challenges in Network Performance Metrics
6. Key Takeaway
1. Importance of Network Performance Metrics for Performance Analysis
Network performance involves analyzing and evaluating network statistics to determine the quality of services provided by the underlying computer network. Considering various key network metrics, it is primarily measured from the end-users’ perspective. Measuring these metrics, analyzing performance data over time, and understanding the impact on the end-user experience is essential to assess network performance.
Measuring network performance requires considering factors such as the location and timing of measurements. For instance, network performance may differ when comparing paths between cities or during periods of varying user demands throughout the day. Therefore, a comprehensive approach to monitoring network performance involves identifying these variables and identifying areas for improvement.
Network performance metrics offer valuable insights into any network infrastructure and services. These metrics provide real-time information on potential issues, outages, and errors, allowing one to allocate IT resources efficiently. Understanding end-user demands can create an adaptive network to meet future business needs. However, comprehensive monitoring requires an advanced network monitoring tool to gather, analyze, and interpret data effectively, optimizing network performance. Leveraging relevant metrics can improve network performance, help make informed decisions, enhance network reliability, and deliver a superior user experience.
2. Critical Key Network Performance Metrics to Monitor
2.1 Latency
Latency, or network delay, is a crucial performance metric in network monitoring and management. It quantifies the time required to transmit data between destinations. Factors like packet queuing and fiber optic cabling affect network latency. Consistent delays or sudden spikes in latency indicate significant network performance issues. Monitoring and minimizing latency are essential for ensuring optimal network performance. By actively tracking latency, organizations identify and address issues that may cause delays in data transmission, thereby improving overall network responsiveness and minimizing disruptions for end-users.
2.2 Throughput
Throughput metrics for network monitoring enable measurement of the data transmission rate across various network segments. Unlike bandwidth, which represents the theoretical data transfer limit, throughput reflects the successful delivery of data packets to their destination. Variations in throughput can occur across different network areas. A low throughput indicates the presence of dropped packets requiring retransmission, and highlights potential performance issues that need attention. Monitoring throughput is crucial for effective network management. By monitoring this performance metric, organizations can gain insights into the actual data transmission rate, ensuring that it aligns with expected levels.
2.3 Jitter
Jitter, a key performance metric in network monitoring, refers to the variation in delay between packets, measured as the difference between expected and actual arrival times. It results due to network congestion, routing issues, or other factors, leading to packet loss and degraded application performance. Jitter disrupts the standard sequencing of data packets and can arise due to network congestion or route changes. Monitoring jitter is crucial for identifying and addressing network stability issues and ensuring reliable data transmission. By actively monitoring this performance metric, organizations can address variations in packet delay, mitigating issues that leads to packet loss and enabling proactive troubleshooting.
2.4 Packet Loss
Packet loss, a performance management network monitoring metric, represents the number of data packets lost during transmission. It directly affects end-user services, leading to unfulfilled data requests and potential disruptions. Packet loss can arise from various factors, including software problems, network congestion, or router performance issues. Monitoring the entire process precisely to detect and address packet loss, ensures reliable data transmission and optimal network performance. Monitoring packet loss with the right network monitoring software enables timely troubleshooting and optimization of network infrastructure, ultimately enhancing overall network reliability and performance.
2.5 VOIP Quality
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) quality is a crucial network performance metric. It refers to the overall performance of a VoIP system in delivering clear and reliable voice communications over the Internet, replacing traditional phone lines. Factors influencing VoIP quality include network bandwidth, latency, packet loss, jitter, and the quality of end-user devices. Monitoring VoIP quality ensures optimal system functionality and high-quality voice communications. Key performance indicators (KPIs) such as mean opinion score (MOS), jitter, latency, packet loss, and call completion rates are utilized to assess and optimize VoIP quality.
2.6 MOS Score
Mean opinion score (MOS) is a vital performance metric in network monitoring, rating the perceived quality of a voice call on a scale of 1 to 5. It is a standardized measurement developed by the ITU, an international agency focused on enhancing communication networks. Initially designed for traditional voice calls, the MOS has been adapted to evaluate Voice over IP (VoIP) calls. The MOS score considers various factors, including the specific codec employed for the VoIP call, providing a comprehensive assessment of voice calls quality in network monitoring.
3. Steps to Monitor and Measure Network Performance
Step 1: Deploy a Software for Network Monitoring
To effectively measure network performance, deploying dedicated network monitoring software is crucial. While temporary tools like traceroutes and pings can provide insights into ongoing problems, they are insufficient for troubleshooting intermittent network issues. Relying on periodic tools for intermittent issues is reliant on chance, as it may only detect problems when they occur during tool usage. By implementing comprehensive network monitoring software, one can proactively monitor and analyze network metrics, historical data, and performance, allowing for timely detection and resolution of both ongoing and intermittent network issues.
Step 2: Distribute Monitoring Agents
For comprehensive network performance measurement, businesses must distribute monitoring agents strategically across key network locations. These specialized software agents continuously monitor network performance using synthetic traffic, simulating and assessing the end-user perspective.
By distributing Monitoring Agents, organizations can:
• Measure key network metrics, including jitter, packet loss, and throughput.
• Identify and troubleshoot intermittent network issues that are challenging to pinpoint.
• Receive alerts regarding any performance degradation, ensuring a timely response.
• Collect valuable data for in-depth troubleshooting and analysis, facilitating proactive network management and optimization.
Step 3: Measure Network Metrics
After deploying the monitoring agents, they continuously exchange synthetic User Datagram Protocol (UDP) traffic, forming a network monitoring session. During this session, the agents measure network performance by evaluating key metrics and conducting network traffic analysis. The metrics used in the analysis include specific parameters, and the results of these measurements are presented in a network response time graph, providing a visual representation of the network's performance characteristics. Monitoring and analyzing these metrics enable organizations to gain valuable insights into network performance, facilitating informed decision-making and convenient network performance troubleshooting.
4. Significance of Monitoring Metrics in Network Troubleshooting
4.1 Provide Network Visibility
Monitoring metrics plays a vital role in network troubleshooting by offering network visibility. They enable the identification of performance bottlenecks, configuration problems, and security vulnerabilities that detrimentally affects network performance. These issues can be addressed through targeted troubleshooting efforts, resulting in improved network performance and enhanced end-user experience. Organizations identify and resolve network issues by monitoring metrics, ensuring optimal network functionality and overall business productivity.
4.2 Prevent Network Downtime
Effective monitoring metrics are instrumental in preventing network downtime, a costly concern for businesses. Swift identification and resolution of network issues through proactive network performance troubleshooting help minimize downtime, ensuring uninterrupted business operations. By promptly addressing potential problems, network troubleshooting safeguards against lost productivity, revenue, and customer dissatisfaction. Maintaining a proactive approach to monitoring and resolving network issues to enhance network reliability and business continuity.
4.3 Observe Bandwidth Usage
Monitoring metrics are essential in network troubleshooting as they enable the observation of bandwidth usage. This allows organizations to detect abnormal or excessive utilization, pinpoint key performance issues and ensure optimal resource allocation. It allows for identifying critical bandwidth-hogging applications or network intrusions, helping experts take immediate action to mitigate risks, safeguard data, and protect the overall network integrity. Additionally, experts can optimize network performance and ensure a seamless user experience for organizations relying on efficient network infrastructure.
5. Overcome Monitoring Challenges in Network Performance Metrics
Enterprises seeking to ensure optimal network performance and improve overall business operations must overcome network monitoring obstacles. Effectively monitoring, tracking, and improving network performance requires a strategic combination of skilled personnel, advanced technologies, and well-defined strategies. Failing to address these requirements results in various challenges that hinder the ability to enhance network performance effectively.
The challenges that businesses often encounter include managing scalability, handling massive data volumes, achieving real-time monitoring, dealing with multi-vendor environments, addressing network security and privacy concerns, and adapting to evolving network demands. Each obstacle presents unique complexities that require tailored approaches and expert insights.
To overcome these challenges, enterprises must invest in comprehensive monitoring tools capable of handling the scalability demands of growing networks. These tools should provide real-time network visibility, robust analytics capabilities, and intelligent data filtering mechanisms to extract meaningful insights from vast network data. Establishing clear monitoring objectives aligned with business goals and defining key performance indicators (KPIs) are essential in effectively addressing network performance challenges.
6. Key Takeaway
Monitoring network performance metrics is crucial for assessing the quality of services a computer network provides from an end-user perspective. It involves continuously tracking and analyzing key metrics such as latency, throughput, jitter, packet loss, VOIP quality, and MOS score. Organizations can actively monitor and assess performance, proactively identify intermittent issues, and collect valuable data for in-depth analysis by implementing dedicated network monitoring software and strategically deploying monitoring agents across the network. In addition, it is imperative to emphasize the significance of monitoring metrics in mitigating the potential financial impact of network downtime, enhancing the utilization of available bandwidth resources, and efficiently tackling the complexities inherent in scaling operations, real-time monitoring, diverse vendor ecosystems, security concerns, and the ever-evolving requirements of modern networks.
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Enterprise Mobility, Mobile Infrastructure
Article | June 16, 2023
Discover network intrusion monitoring with top network monitoring books. Explore insights, best practices, and tools to secure network visibility and processes used in monitoring network performance.
Observing networks for performance and security anomalies is crucial for businesses that rely on their business network. Network monitoring solutions monitor performance metrics across an entire network to guarantee that your systems operate properly. From monitoring network performance to ensuring comprehensive visibility, the books listed below will offer a wealth of knowledge and expertise to empower professionals in the networking industry.
10 Network Monitoring Books to Effectively Monitor Performance
1 Zabbix Network Monitoring
Author: Rihards Olups
Zabbix Network Monitoring book is an indispensable resource for networking professionals seeking to enhance their network visibility and improve network performance monitoring. This comprehensive guide offers an approach to effectively monitor network devices and applications using Zabbix 3.0. One of the network monitoring books, Zabbix Network Monitoring covers essential topics such as data collection, native Zabbix agents, and SNMP devices. It also delves into monitoring Java application servers, VMware, notifications, permission management, system maintenance, and troubleshooting. It empowers readers to build a robust network monitoring solution to gather data from various systems. By exploring the intricacies of Zabbix, this book ensures that network monitoring becomes an efficient and effortless task, ultimately enhancing network visibility and performance for all stakeholders.
2 The Practice of Network Security Monitoring
Author: Richard Bejtlich
An essential book for networking professionals, The Practice of Network Security Monitoring: Understanding Incident Detection and Response, helps to enhance network visibility and strengthen network security. The book's author, Richard, guides readers through implementing network security monitoring (NSM) as a proactive defense strategy. The book emphasizes integrating NSM into security measures to effectively detect and respond to intrusions. It also provides practical insights on deploying, building and operating an NSM operation using open-source software and vendor-neutral tools. With a focus on proactive incident response, this book equips readers with the knowledge and techniques to establish a robust security net that detects, contains and controls attacks. By implementing the practices outlined in this book, organizations can better safeguard their networks and prevent the loss of sensitive data.
3 Internet and Network Architecture
Author: Sang Hinch
Internet and Network Architecture: Analyzing Performance with Network Monitoring Tools is a must-read for professionals in the networking industry seeking to enhance network visibility and optimize network performance monitoring. This comprehensive guide offers a thorough introduction to TCP/IP, FTP, IP addresses, ports, and web page retrieval, providing a solid foundation in internet and network architecture. The book explores the complex workings of routers, data transmission, network configuration, and architecture, enabling readers to build efficient and secure networks. Focusing on practicality, it emphasizes using network monitoring tools to analyze performance and troubleshoot issues effectively. By mastering the fundamentals presented in this book, readers will gain the knowledge and confidence to navigate the World Wide Web, understand network protocols, and make informed decisions for network optimization.
4 Zabbix 4 Network Monitoring
Author: Patrik Uytterhoeven & Rihards Olups
Zabbix 4 Network Monitoring: Monitor the performance of your network devices and applications using the all-new Zabbix 4.0, 3rd Edition is a comprehensive and highly valuable resource for professionals in the networking industry. This book serves as an essential guide to effectively monitor the performance of network devices and applications using Zabbix 4.0. Written for both beginners and experienced users, the book offers a step-by-step approach to help readers quickly grasp the installation process and explore the new features of network monitoring. From understanding native Zabbix agents and SNMP devices to harnessing Zabbix's integrated functionality for monitoring Java application servers and VMware, readers will gain comprehensive knowledge. With insights into optimizing performance, automating configurations, and troubleshooting network issues, it will develop advanced skills to ensure a healthy and efficient network.
5 Applied Network Security Monitoring
Author: Chris Sanders & Jason Smith
An indispensable book for professionals in the networking industry Applied Network Security Monitoring: Collection, Detection, and Analysis offers a comprehensive guide to become a proficient NSM analyst. Focusing on NSM's collection, detection, and analysis stages, this book equips readers with essential concepts through real-world examples and practical scenarios. Recognizing that prevention is not foolproof, the book emphasizes the critical role of detection and response in minimizing the impact of network intrusions. With insights from experienced NSM professionals and access to sample data, readers gain valuable knowledge to analyze network security incidents effectively. From data collection methods to in-depth coverage of tools like Snort, Suricata, Bro-IDS, SiLK, and Argus, this monitoring book provides hands-on experience and practical examples using real PCAP files. By leveraging Security Onion for lab examples, readers can develop and enhance their analytic techniques.
6 Practical Network Security Monitoring: Using Free Software
Author: Elizabeth Graham
Practical Network Security Monitoring: Using Free Software offers guidance on utilizing free software to collect, monitor, and analyze network traffic, thereby detecting and identifying potential threats. With a focus on providing practical exercises, this book equips beginner to intermediate users with the necessary knowledge to detect and defend cyber threats. Step-by-step instructions enable readers to install, configure, and effectively use free tools, allowing hands-on experience in analyzing network traffic and identifying malicious activity. This book edition covers Security Onion, introducing significant changes to the platform. The updated content includes new intrusions, malware, PCAP examples, and an introduction to web-based PCAP analysis tools. A bonus chapter challenges readers to test their knowledge through self-assessment.
7 Efficient Body Sensor Networks for Patient Monitoring
Author: Jawaid Iqbal
Efficient Body Sensor Networks for Patient Monitoring is a book for professionals in the networking and healthcare industry, focusing on the challenges, Body Sensor Networks (BSNs) face in continuously monitoring patient vital signs. BSNs operate in constrained environments and encounter issues such as patient information privacy, secure data transmission over public networks, high overhead, and energy constraints. Being one of the prominent network monitoring books, it presents five efficient and secure attribute-based schemes designed explicitly for BSNs. These schemes address the mentioned challenges comprehensively, providing practical solutions to enhance network monitoring performance in patient monitoring scenarios. By proposing novel approaches, this book contributes to the advancement of efficient and secure patient monitoring within BSNs.
8 Mastering Python Networking
Author: Eric Chou
A comprehensive guide created for professionals in the networking industry seeking to leverage Python for network automation, monitoring, and management, Mastering Python Networking: Utilize Python packages and frameworks for network automation, monitoring, cloud, and management, focuses on the latest Python libraries and frameworks and equips readers with the necessary skills to tackle common & complex network challenges effectively. From interacting with network devices to implementing advanced features using Python 3, the book covers a wide range of topics, including Docker containers, network data analysis, cloud networking, and DevOps practices. With practical examples and insights into tools like GitLab & ELK, network engineers, developers, and SREs will gain valuable knowledge to enhance their network performance monitoring and visibility.
9 AWS Security Cookbook
Author: Heartin Kanikathottu
Focusing on securing Amazon Web Services (AWS) infrastructure, AWS Security Cookbook: Practical solutions for managing security policies, monitoring, auditing, and compliance with AWS is written. Being one of the network monitoring books that provide professionals with valuable insights related to network visibility and network performance management in the networking industry, this book offers practical solutions to address common security challenges, including permission policies, key management, network security, and cloud security best practices. Industry professionals can explore various AWS services and features that enhance security, including IAM, S3, CloudWatch, CloudTrail, Config, GuardDuty, and Macie. In addition, the book also covers compliance requirements and demonstrates how to maintain security and compliance using AWS security services.
10 The Best of TaoSecurity Blog, Volume 2
Author: Richard Bejtlich
The Best of TaoSecurity Blog, Volume 2: Network Security Monitoring, Technical Notes, Research, and China and the Advanced Persistent Threat, guides professionals in the networking industry, particularly those interested in network security monitoring. Written by Richard Bejtlich, a renowned cybersecurity expert, he curates the best entries from his 17 years of writing on the TaoSecurity Blog. The book explores various intervention detection and response aspects, leveraging threat intelligence sources, network data, application and infrastructure data, and endpoint data. Additionally, it provides insights into Chinese hacking activities over the past two decades, offering a unique perspective from a defender on the front lines. With new analysis accompanying each post, readers can gain valuable knowledge on the evolution of the security industry, defensive methodologies, and strategies for enhancing national security.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the recommended books discussed in this article provide valuable insights and guidance for networking experts in the B2B sector. These resources cover various aspects of monitoring network performance, enhancing network visibility, and addressing security concerns. By delving into these monitoring books, professionals can gain a deeper understanding of effective network performance monitoring techniques, ensuring optimal visibility across their infrastructure. With the ever-evolving networking landscape, staying up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices, it is crucial for maintaining a high-performing network. These books offer industry-relevant knowledge and empower networking experts to make informed decisions, ultimately leading to a robust and efficient network infrastructure.
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Article | April 20, 2020
Latency – the time it takes for devices to communicate with each other or with the server that’s imparting information – was already pretty low with 4G, but 5G will basically make it disappear. This development is great news for new tech forays into remote real-time gaming and self-driving cars, as the communication needs to be instantaneous for hiccup-free gameplay and to guarantee the safety of passengers. lthough there has been much media coverage regarding 5G’s health-related dangers and conspiracy-driven connection to the coronavirus, many people are still in the dark about what the 5G network can bring to the everyday internet user.
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