Application performance monitoring (APM) is becoming more complex as the days go by. Server virtualization and cloud-based systems with containers and orchestration layers are part of this growing complexity, especially as the number of data sources increases and continues to change dynamically.
To keep up with this changing environment, you will need to automate as many of your systems as possible. Open APIs can be an effective way to combat this scenario.
The use of open APIs applies to the monitoring data capture process as well. Your APM tools need good data to make good conclusions. This has never changed and never will. A good choice to address this issue includes using a Representational State Transfer (REST) based interface to a network packet broker (NPB). The NPB is useful in the data capture process as it can aggregate data from multiple sources, filter that data on Layer 2 through 4 criteria and/or Layer 7 criteria, and then distribute that specific subset of data to the APM tool for analysis and the creation of actionable insights.
Two common use cases for the automation of the monitoring data capture process include the following:
■ Event triggers
■ Orchestration systems
Event triggered responses are fairly straight forward. Once an event is spotted by a security information and event management (SIEM) or the APM tool, instructions can be sent to the NPB to collect specific types of data (based upon IP address or other criteria) and then send that data to the APM tool for analysis.
In a different use case, orchestration and management systems can be used to support a zero-touch provisioning process. In the case of the NPB, built-in features like a RESTful interface allow for the use of automated provisioning systems, which reduces start-to-finish programming times to five minutes or less.
Besides the initial programming and provisioning, this solution can also be adapted to implement a continuous self-configuration system for the NPB and the monitoring data capture process, taking advantage of the flexibility of virtualized tools and cloud-based security analytics tools for monitoring. As the network (and data sources) changes, the NPB can be reconfigured automatically to collect the right data. Your APM system can then continue to perform its central function of analyzing data.
If you need a way to keep up with a dynamically changing environment, Open APIs could be a good answer.
The Latest
We're at a critical inflection point in the data landscape. In our recent survey of executive leaders in the data space — The State of Data Observability in 2024 — we found that while 92% of organizations now consider data reliability core to their strategy, most still struggle with fundamental visibility challenges ...
From the accelerating adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI (GenAI) to the ongoing challenges of cost optimization and security, these IT leaders are navigating a complex and rapidly evolving landscape. Here's what you should know about the top priorities shaping the year ahead ...
In the heat of the holiday online shopping rush, retailers face persistent challenges such as increased web traffic or cyber threats that can lead to high-impact outages. With profit margins under high pressure, retailers are prioritizing strategic investments to help drive business value while improving the customer experience ...
In a fast-paced industry where customer service is a priority, the opportunity to use AI to personalize products and services, revolutionize delivery channels, and effectively manage peaks in demand such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday are vast. By leveraging AI to streamline demand forecasting, optimize inventory, personalize customer interactions, and adjust pricing, retailers can have a better handle on these stress points, and deliver a seamless digital experience ...
Broad proliferation of cloud infrastructure combined with continued support for remote workers is driving increased complexity and visibility challenges for network operations teams, according to new research conducted by Dimensional Research and sponsored by Broadcom ...
New research from ServiceNow and ThoughtLab reveals that less than 30% of banks feel their transformation efforts are meeting evolving customer digital needs. Additionally, 52% say they must revamp their strategy to counter competition from outside the sector. Adapting to these challenges isn't just about staying competitive — it's about staying in business ...
Leaders in the financial services sector are bullish on AI, with 95% of business and IT decision makers saying that AI is a top C-Suite priority, and 96% of respondents believing it provides their business a competitive advantage, according to Riverbed's Global AI and Digital Experience Survey ...
SLOs have long been a staple for DevOps teams to monitor the health of their applications and infrastructure ... Now, as digital trends have shifted, more and more teams are looking to adapt this model for the mobile environment. This, however, is not without its challenges ...
Modernizing IT infrastructure has become essential for organizations striving to remain competitive. This modernization extends beyond merely upgrading hardware or software; it involves strategically leveraging new technologies like AI and cloud computing to enhance operational efficiency, increase data accessibility, and improve the end-user experience ...
AI sure grew fast in popularity, but are AI apps any good? ... If companies are going to keep integrating AI applications into their tech stack at the rate they are, then they need to be aware of AI's limitations. More importantly, they need to evolve their testing regiment ...
