Remote Monitoring Systems: What are the Features You Need to Look For?

Isn’t it frustrating whenever your company’s IT systems go down? This downtime can not only damage your reputation and hurt your customers’ trust, but it can also cause you to lose thousands of dollars. This can negatively affect your business and your customers. As the owner, your job includes ensuring that your company’s IT systems are always working and responsive. There are a lot of issues your IT systems may face every day, but you need to fix those issues as quickly as possible. You need a reliable way to ensure that your systems are working properly, and this is where remote monitoring systems come in.

What are Remote Monitoring Systems?

A remote monitoring system is a set of information technology tools that live on customer’s servers. These tools monitor all activity that is happening at every workstation and provide analytics and information to the IT service provider to prevent possible issues to arise. It usually uses one interface and allows full visibility into a customer’s hardware, software, desktop, and user information. In many cases, remote monitoring systems know which issues are critical and which ones aren’t, and react accordingly. They perform all these tasks to prevent major systems issues before they could even arise. Ultimately, they give the company the peace of mind that the systems are in perfect condition.

A remote monitoring system performs daily maintenance, which allows you to focus on what really matters, which is to provide the best service to your customers. Your company already has a lot on its plate: working with customers, providing exceptional customer service, and keeping up with the competition. Easy-to-fix network issues should be the least of your worries.

Does Your Company Need Remote Monitoring Systems?

Deploying remote monitoring equipment allows you to have full visibility and full control over your network. Instead of checking your equipment periodically, or learning first from your customers, you can be the first one to know about a problem.

If you have a good remote monitoring system, you can quickly respond to network problems and fix them before they become bigger. This means you need to use the right monitoring solution. Not all remote monitoring systems available are perfect for you. If you choose a poorly designed system or a limited system, then you won’t have 100% security. You’ll think you’re protected, but the truth is, your limited solution leaves you vulnerable to many network issues.

If you want to have the best remote monitoring system, then you need to make sure that it has the essential features to help you achieve network security.

What are the Features You Need to Look for When Choosing Remote Monitoring Systems?

1. Live Analog Monitoring. If you don’t have the right analog sensor technology, then you cannot monitor critical environmental conditions. A basic discrete sensor can provide binary on and off information. For example, it will only notify you when your battery levels have dropped below a certain point or when the temperature has risen past a certain point. Discrete sensors are very limited, so you need to ensure that you have a live analog monitoring. Analog sensors can provide accurate readings. For example, it will tell you what your room temperature is or what your battery level is.
2. Easy to use setup/configuration. A good remote monitoring system won’t require you to undergo excessive training to understand the system. It shouldn’t confuse your employees when they use it to manage the alarms. Use a system that has a simple plug n play setup, with an easy-to-use user interface. This is a very important feature you need to make sure your monitoring system has. If your employees need to manage the alarm network, it shouldn’t be confusing on their part.
3. Multiple alert methods. A lot of remote monitoring systems only provide internal alerts to the NOC. But what if your servers overheat at 4 AM, and burn all your important paperwork before you can show up to work? Monitoring systems that do not have multiple alert methods don’t provide versatility. Your system should be able to support 24/7 alert capability via SMS, e-mail, voice alert, etc., because emergencies can happen anytime.
4. Dependable hardware. Your remote monitoring system should be the last piece of equipment to fail when a problem occurs. If your monitoring system isn’t built to last, then your network is definitely not secured. When it comes to security, you deserve the best, so don’t settle for anything less than industrial-grade hardware. Don’t jeopardize your network’s security by using cheap equipment that isn’t ready for the job.
5. Backup data transport. You shouldn’t only rely on your primary network to report the alarms. If there are any issues with the data transport, you’re going to lose critical visibility of your remote sites when you need them the most. Make sure that your alarm notification system supports backup methods in transporting data through dial-up, fiber, wireless, etc. The right backup reporting gives you the assurance that your network is still monitored even when your primary data transport goes down.

Don’t let your remote monitoring project become a nightmare and contact an expert now to get the best remote monitoring solution. Check out Sensaphone remote monitoring solutions and select the monitoring system that’s best for your company. Sensaphone offers a comprehensive line of monitoring systems that can protect properties and equipment assets.

Property damage can happen if there are changes in conditions like humidity and temperature. It can also happen if there are water leaks, power failure, and equipment failure. When these happen, it is best to be notified as soon as these changes occur. The system will send an alert when it senses significant changes that fall outside the acceptable range. This alert can be in the form of e-mail, SMS, or voice message.

A lot of companies use Sensaphone in different industries, including water and wastewater, oil and gas, agriculture, HVAC and refrigeration, science and health labs, greenhouses, and network data centers. Even homeowners use them to protect locations that are unattended for long periods of time. Check Sensaphone now for more information!