In short, IT monitoring is a system that monitors the operational status of IT hardware and software. It can monitor servers, storage, network devices, operating systems, databases, and more. It differs from the common video surveillance systems we see, which are mostly used to monitor people and public spaces. If cameras are the eyes of video surveillance, then IT monitoring serves as the eyes of IT operation and maintenance.

What is IT Monitoring?

When it comes to monitoring, most people probably first think of the common video surveillance systems we encounter daily, such as private surveillance for home security, public surveillance for safety in public places, and even our dashcams. A prominent feature of video surveillance is that it uses cameras at the forefront to output video footage to rear-end displays for real-time viewing of the monitored scene or storage on hard drives for later retrieval to reconstruct events.

However, the IT monitoring we are discussing today does not involve cameras or output video footage.

IT monitoring targets IT equipment, also known as IT resources, which can include servers, network devices, databases, storage, and other software and hardware facilities. Through a series of programs and instructions, an IT monitoring system monitors and provides feedback on the operational status of these IT devices. For example, it can be used to check if server connections are normal, monitor CPU load, and assess remaining storage capacity.

More specifically, consider a scenario or an enterprise, whether it’s a major internet company, a large telecom operator, or even 12306 (China’s railway ticketing system). To ensure business stability, these enterprises typically deploy a large number of servers, storage systems, and various middleware and network devices. Taking 12306 as an example, if the database experiences abnormalities, consumers may not be able to check ticket availability, view prices, or make payments. For large enterprises, widespread system failures can be catastrophic.

Another issue is that, regardless of whether it’s hardware or software, such as CPUs, memory, databases, or servers, failures are inevitable. Power outages, equipment malfunctions, or even a loose connection between devices can disrupt the entire system’s operation. (Therefore, large enterprises usually have backup systems or Plan Bs in place.)

Why is Monitoring Necessary for Operation and Maintenance (O&M)?

Since failures are inevitable, the key is to resolve them quickly. Some may argue that it’s simple: when a failure occurs, identify the cause and fix it. As O&M personnel responsible for ensuring system security and stability, they should possess such capabilities.

While that’s true, it’s not entirely accurate. There’s another issue at play: large enterprises have complex system architectures with numerous software and hardware devices, but relatively few O&M personnel. In large enterprises with tens of thousands of IT devices, it’s almost impossible to rely solely on human effort to inspect and maintain IT facilities. This is where IT monitoring comes in—to help O&M personnel detect failures, pinpoint their locations, and even prevent them from occurring.

How Does IT Monitoring Improve O&M Efficiency?

Let’s consider the brief workflow of IT O&M: failure occurrence – failure detection – failure cause analysis – failure location – failure resolution. In traditional O&M, failure occurrence is inevitable, detection is difficult, and it heavily relies on the personal experience of O&M personnel. Traditional IT monitoring aims to alert O&M personnel of the failure cause when it occurs, help them quickly locate the failure point, and resolve the issue, thereby improving the efficiency of failure resolution.

In fact, with the integration of emerging technologies like big data and AI, contemporary O&M monitoring can not only swiftly detect failures, analyze their causes, and locate them when they occur but also predict potential failures before they happen, further enhancing O&M efficiency.