A modern IT network is an ecosystem that is constantly evolving and adapting. With nearly all devices connected and in constant contact with other devices in the network, monitoring this ecosystem becomes overwhelming. The massive complication of Internet of Things (IoT) devices powered by cutting technologies only adds to this complexity.
However, by using proper tools such as an LwM2M server, organizations can monitor IoT devices as easily as they would monitor a traditional network. Here are three tips for companies looking to optimize their monitoring schemes.
1. Move to real-time monitoring
A network is like a living ecosystem that changes at all times. That’s why a typical, static network map might not bring organizations the information they need to properly control their networks of devices.
If you want to know what the network monitoring tool is doing as devices interconnect, you need a real-time view into it.
A real-time view allows you to proactively monitor changes to the network and devices, see all of the configuration changes as they occur, check uptime and downtime, and get a glimpse into the changes in network traffic.
You will no longer have to navigate multiple dashboards and reports. A real-time view makes identifying network problems easier – and some of them can only be detected this way. It’s the most productive way to track assets.
2. Keep an eye on your assets
IT departments need to keep track of all of the physical assets they control, especially if they have IoT implementations. These are usually complex and involve a large number of connected devices.
How can companies track their assets? One approach is manual asset inventory, which basically means physically walking around the server space and counting every connected device manually. But a manual asset inventory is time-consuming and might become very inefficient in the case of frequent updates.
Instead, engineers can run a network discovery scan that generates a detailed and accurate network inventory automatically. This way, you’ll get a complete and up-to-date view of your network, which enables you to proactively recognize and address changes.
By pushing one button, you’ll get a complete inventory of all the devices attached to your network. The asset management software usually finds and maps network assets to then create an inventory that automatically updates when you reconfigure a device or change its status.
3. Use device roles
Taking advantage of device roles is a smart move for optimizing your network discovery process. Every connected device can have a separate job title, which identifies its role. By using device roles, your network monitoring tool can identify the monitoring configuration applied to a specific device when you include it in your network.
Make sure to configure the device roles for devices before adding them to your network. This enables adding devices in bulk and allows your monitoring tool to automatically recognize them and then apply the right monitoring configurations.
Conclusion
Monitoring an IoT network is a challenging task. We hope that these three tips help you tame the growing number of IoT devices in your network and control your constantly evolving ecosystem.
