Cloud computing, including virtualized machines, networks, and infrastructures, is increasingly a major part of large and small enterprises. The process of virtualization is designed to separate physical infrastructure into fragments of “virtual” devices or environments that can be used more effectively and efficiently. There are many different types of virtualization in cloud computing, and many…

Damaging cyber attacks are a rising concern as organizations increasingly rely on digital technology for managing sensitive data and running core business operations. While technology can increase business efficiency, without security measures in place, a digital-first approach can end up introducing vulnerabilities and putting data at risk. In this article, we will discuss the main…

Any IT specialist knows the importance of switch port management. Your company can see quick benefits when you start monitoring your switch ports to increase network efficiency, including savings in time, money, and energy. Switch port monitoring also provides critical protection against security threats. Although network switches generally have LED lights to signal their status…

Switch port management is a small but important task for all IT professionals, as it can vastly contribute to network efficiency, saving you time, money, and energy otherwise spent troubleshooting. Mapping and managing your switch ports also plays a vital role in security processes, enabling you to detect and address crucial threats. Several mapping and…

Microsoft SQL Server®, a leading relational database management system, was first launched in 1993 and specifically designed for Microsoft Windows. Since then, the system has grown in popularity thanks to its centralized tooling, ease of administration, and common authorization and security settings. That popularity led to Microsoft’s re-architecture of SQL Server in 2016, designed to…

The most common databases used today are relational databases, where data is stored in interconnected tables. You query those tables using Standard Query Language (SQL). To get the most value of the SQL databases you use as a developer, system administrator, or database administrator, it’s vital that you have visibility into what’s going on. That…

While it can sometimes seem SIEM systems compete with log management solutions, the two tools should ideally work together to provide a comprehensive data source. Together, they are essential for storing and examining a system’s data to troubleshoot potential problems and ward off security threats before they become serious breaches. Here is everything you need…

If your organization needs data security and a convenient way to share, store, and organize content, you may already be using SharePoint. If you aren’t already using SharePoint, it may be time to start. Customizable and scalable, SharePoint is a powerful and industry-leading web-based tool that facilitates workplace collaboration. When using SharePoint, ensuring SharePoint server…

If you’re looking for software to ping multiple IP addresses, then you might need a ping sweep tool. But finding the right tool to ping a range of IP addresses can be tricky. The market is bursting with tools and software, each with its own advantages and disadvantages, and the technical jargon can be confusing,…

It’s no question that bottlenecks, downtime, and other common network performance issues can vastly affect the end-user experience and put productivity on hold, ultimately cutting into your company’s bottom line. Getting to the root cause of performance problems is a top priority for nearly every sysadmin. This is where packet sniffers, also known as network…

Packet loss causes network disruption, lags, and losses in connectivity, ultimately impacting business performance. In this article, I’ll discuss packet loss testing, concluding with a list of my favorite packet loss test tools. What Are Packets? What Is Packet Loss? What Causes Packet Loss? How to Check Packet Loss? How to Test Packet Loss? 4…

Network jitter is a frustrating but common occurrence, and it can make the difference between a successful Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone call and a failed one. For companies depending on calls to land customers or maintain healthy business relationships, a poor-quality VoIP call can have a significant impact on customer satisfaction, the ability to…

Scanning your network regularly is important for ensuring the network and devices on it are functioning healthily. Here’s how to go about network scanning to understand what devices are on your network, view how they’re performing, and understand the traffic moving between them. There are manual ways to perform some of these tasks, but I…

In this guide, I’ll define the basics of network latency—what it is, why it matters, and how measuring and optimizing network latency is important for any business. I’ll also dive deeper into the best ways to improve network latency. And while it’s possible to undertake manual latency testing, it can be time-consuming work better left…

One of the worst things to experience with your network is a sudden slowdown. Slow networks can be a disaster if you’re in the middle of an important business process, trying to impress a client, or rushing to complete an urgent task.  High latency can become increasingly problematic as networks grow bigger, as having more…

Network connectivity issues can cause big problems, especially if your organization has a complex network with multiple nodes and devices. A complicated online system can make it more difficult to identify the sources of technical problems. Fortunately, there are ways you can simplify the troubleshooting process. With the right strategy and tools, you should be…

SolarWinds® NetFlow Traffic Analyzer (NTA) is a multi-purpose tool useful for a wide range of bandwidth monitoring and management purposes. It integrates with SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor (NPM) to provide a comprehensive network monitoring tool. NTA Key Features Installation System Requirements Installation Process Best Practices for Network Traffic Monitoring Configuration and Using NTA SolarWinds NTA…

MongoDB is an open-source, distributed document database. Unlike relational SQL database systems (e.g., SQL Server, MySQL, et al.), which store data as rows in tables, MongoDB stores data as collections of documents (JSON objects). Since document data structures correspond to the native representation of data in most modern programming languages, MongoDB makes it easier for…

Though this list accounts for both open-source and closed-source products, it focuses on Linux-based network monitoring tools. A handful of common tools only operate on Windows, Pandora, or other systems, but most network monitoring tools run on Linux systems since Linux—with its higher degree of user input and easily recodeable security bugs—is often the choice…

Many professionals had to adapt to remote work at the start of the pandemic. However, distanced jobs may be here to stay: 86% of employees see remote work as the future. As a result, you might wonder if your IT asset management (ITAM) strategy is ready to leave the office. Fortunately, there are a few…

As we become more dependent on the internet, we need to better understand the technologies that make it possible. One of these technologies is the IP address or Internet Protocol address. IP addresses are used to uniquely identify devices on the internet, allowing them to communicate with each other. In this post, we will discuss…