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The Best Practices for Cloud Infrastructure Monitoring

Cloud infrastructure monitoring is an important element of any well-run IT department that relies on cloud technology. This process is defined by the monitoring and critical assessment of performance, availability, and utilization of all cloud-based systems. Connected networks, applications, storage locations, memory, and all other facets of an operational cloud system must be carefully monitored to ensure any issues that arise are resolved promptly and the system continues to function as intended.

At the KPI Network, cloud infrastructure monitoring is among the most valuable business solutions that we offer our clients. Below we have listed the best practices that we recommend for this type of process.

Prioritize security

Cloud-based systems - while incredibly convenient, are highly susceptible to security threats. For this reason, staying on top of security measures is an essential part of cloud infrastructure monitoring. Access controls and firewalls must be configured properly and regularly analyzed to ensure their effectiveness. Configuration should include setting strict limitations on data sharing, completing a full review of applicable data protection policies, data encryption, and more. Securing your cloud infrastructure will help to prevent serious data leaks and compromisation of sensitive information. In turn, cloud security monitoring can result in major time and cost savings.

Take advantage of automation

Automating your cloud infrastructure monitoring processes will save a tremendous amount of time and human capital that could otherwise be put towards furthering your operation. Today, there are many reliable automated cloud monitoring software such as Microsoft Azure Monitor, Google Cloud Monitoring, and others. Automated programs can accurately identify any issues that arise within your cloud-based systems and notify users at a moment’s notice. The aforementioned programs, for example, automatically gather metrics, track events, and monitor the use of applications. We highly recommend integrating this type of technology into your cloud infrastructure monitoring practices for consistent, optimal results.

Maintain a high standard for user experience

User experience is a key component of cloud infrastructure monitoring. Maintaining a streamlined, centralized structure for all team members to work on can increase productivity, remove obstacles, and improve collaboration. If your cloud-based systems are becoming disjointed or overwhelmed with a high volume of data, they may need to be manually or automatically cleaned up using the appropriate software to ensure programs are running well on all devices.

Track available storage space

Sharing a cloud-based system with a large number of users puts your operation at constant risk of running low on storage space. This should be carefully monitored, and unused data should be deleted on a regular basis. This is especially important if your business relies on ample storage space that is capable of processing large, sudden bursts of data.

Alert the correct users when problems occur

In large-scale organizations, it can take days for cloud-related problems to be brought to the attention of relevant personnel. This can result in data loss, compromised information, and other consequences. For this reason, it is important to put a system in place where the right team members are notified at the first sign of a problem. Customizing features within communication platforms such as Slack or email notifications is a great way to ensure the correct individuals are alerted if and when your cloud-based systems experience issues.

Cloud infrastructure monitoring has become essential to the success of modern organizations. At the KPI Network, we are proud to connect our clients with a wide range of resources that help facilitate the success of their operations. For more information on the best practices to apply to your cloud-based systems, or to request a free lead estimate, do not hesitate to get in touch with our team.