Cloud monitoring is essential to ensure the continuity of your business. It ensures the uninterrupted availability and performance of critical business applications hosted in the cloud. It helps to measure, evaluate, monitor and manage workloads in a cloud environment using defined metrics and thresholds. The process enables companies to maximise their cloud investments and user experience and effectively achieve business goals. This blog post will spark your interest in the importance of cloud monitoring and its value to your organisation. 

Cloud monitoring: definition and architecture

Cloud monitoring is of central importance for the optimisation of operational processes in cloud-based IT infrastructures. Whether through manual monitoring or automated processes, they Ensures continuous availability and peak performance of critical components such as websites, servers, applications and other facets of the Cloud infrastructure.

By utilising sophisticated monitoring techniques, companies can proactively identify and address potential issues, safeguarding against downtime and improving overall operational efficiency in the dynamic landscape of the Cloud computing optimise. The process helps companies to assess whether the applications hosted in the cloud are working within the scope of the service level agreement, identify potential security risks, identify capacity issues and analyse costs. 

The cloud monitoring architecture generally consists of the following components:

• Data acquisitionMonitoring agents or sensors collect data from cloud resources such as servers and virtual machines, Databasesnetworks and applications. This data includes metrics such as CPU utilisation, memory usage, hard disk I/O, network traffic and application performance.
• Data aggregation: The collected Data are aggregated and processed to gain meaningful insights and actionable information. Aggregation can take place at different levels, including individual resources, resource groups or the entire cloud environment.
• Storage and databaseThe aggregated data is stored in a centralised database or data store for historical analyses, reports and correlations. Cloud monitoring solutions often utilise scalable and distributed databases to process large amounts of data and ensure high availability.
• Analysis and visualisation: Data analysis algorithms and visualisation tools are used to analyse and Visualisation monitoring data in real time or through historical reports. Dashboards, charts and graphs provide stakeholders with an intuitive insight into the performance, availability and security of cloud resources and services.
• Alerting and notificationMonitoring systems generate alerts and notifications based on predefined thresholds or anomalies detected in the monitoring data. The alerts are sent to specific employees or teams via various communication channels so that they can react immediately to problems or incidents.
• Automation and orchestrationAutomation workflows and orchestration tools are used to automate routine monitoring tasks, such as deploying monitoring agents, configuring alert rules and scaling the monitoring infrastructure. Automation helps to streamline monitoring processes, reduce manual effort and improve efficiency.
• Monitoring compliance and securityCloud Monitoring includes features to monitor compliance with industry regulations and security best practices. This includes monitoring access controls, encryption settings, network security configurations and compliance with data protection regulations such as GDPR or HIPAA.

By structuring the cloud monitoring architecture in this way, companies can effectively track and manage the performance, availability, security and costs of their cloud-based resources and services in order to optimise operations and achieve business objectives. 

Cloud computing enables companies to use their IT resources more flexibly and cost-efficiently. The cloud architecture and infrastructure play a central role in this. Find out which aspects you need to pay attention to in our blog post:

Cloud Computing - Architecture & Infrastructure: Compactly explained

Types of cloud monitoring 

A cloud consists of a large number of moving parts. To maintain top-notch performance, an organisation must therefore ensure that everything works together seamlessly. This need for seamless integration has led to various monitoring techniques to suit an organisation's needs. Below is a list of the main types of cloud monitoring and a brief description:

Database monitoring

With this technology, processes, queries, availability and consumption of Cloud database resources checked. It is an important type of monitoring, as most cloud applications are based on databases. From Security reasons it can track who is trying to access the database. For example, a tool can notify us if the database is not stable so that we can repair it more quickly if it stops working.

Standardised monitoring

This monitoring technique is more of a strategy that provides a holistic view of an organisation's IT infrastructure. It helps operations teams solve problems faster by summarising the entire IT infrastructure in a common view. 

Virtual network monitoring

This monitoring method involves creating virtual versions of network devices such as firewalls, routers and load balancers. Because these tools are software-based, they can provide information about how they are functioning. For example, if a virtual router is overloaded with traffic, the network changes to cope. So instead of replacing hardware, virtualisation quickly makes changes to improve the flow of data.

Monitoring of cloud storage

This method simultaneously monitors various analyses, storage resources and processes that are assigned to virtual machines, services, databases and applications. It is often used for Hosting Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions used. You can customise the monitoring setup for these applications to track performance metrics, processes, users, databases and available storage space. It provides data that helps prioritise valuable functions or fix errors that hinder functionality.

End user experience monitoring (EUM)

EUM enables the tracking of key performance metrics for web and mobile applications, including crash reports, page load specification and network request rates. An optimal EUM solution consolidates metrics from all transactions and dynamically adapts to load fluctuations. It should also provide instant insights into user experience with both SaaS and internally hosted applications, including the various components involved in service delivery.

In our article on cloud service models, we inform you about the differences between the three different services - Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) - and the benefits for your company.

Cloud service models: IaaS, PaaS and SaaS in comparison

Advantages of cloud monitoring

This section looks at the key benefits that cloud monitoring brings to organisations, including scalability, proactive vulnerability detection, cross-device portability, dynamic performance tracking, cost efficiency and remote access. 

In today's dynamic business landscape, the smooth operation and performance of a cloud-based infrastructure is critical to success. Cloud monitoring is proving to be an important solution that offers numerous benefits to help organisations stay ahead of the game. From effortless scaling to proactive vulnerability detection, cloud monitoring provides a robust framework for maintaining optimal performance and security. By utilising these benefits, organisations can navigate the complexities of cloud computing with confidence and efficiency, ensuring uninterrupted operations and sustainable growth.

Read our blog post to find out what challenges and added value the use of cloud computing environments entails:

Advantages and disadvantages of cloud computing for companies

Set up effective cloud monitoring

Cloud monitoring offers a variety of benefits for scaling organisations. However, organisations need to follow some standard cloud monitoring best practices to get the most out of cloud-based deployments. Below is a concise overview of effective cloud monitoring, covering organisational, infrastructural and personnel aspects.

1. Organisational aspect 
   • Define clear goalsCompanies must first define clear objectives for cloud monitoring that are based on the company's priorities and requirements. 
   • Define responsibilitiesThis includes defining roles and responsibilities for monitoring activities, including the designation of a dedicated team responsible for monitoring cloud resources. 
   • Promote cooperationOrganisations need to establish effective communication channels and escalation procedures to ensure a timely response to issues and incidents. It is also important to foster a culture of collaboration and accountability between the teams involved in cloud monitoring.
2. Infrastructural aspect 
   • Select suitable toolsOrganisations need to deploy comprehensive monitoring tools and technologies that are capable of monitoring the entire cloud stack, including infrastructure, applications and services. They must utilise cloud-native monitoring solutions offered by cloud providers or third-party tools that are compatible with cloud environments. 
   • Design of a scalable architectureIt is necessary to ensure the scalability and flexibility of the monitoring infrastructure to cope with dynamic cloud environments and fluctuating workloads. 
   • Introduce safety measuresCompanies must implement robust security measures to protect the monitoring infrastructure from unauthorised access and manipulation.
3. Personnel aspect 
   • Offer training coursesOrganisations should provide appropriate training and resources to staff responsible for cloud monitoring. They must ensure that they have the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively configure, manage and interpret monitoring data. 
   • Promoting developmentOrganisations need to keep their employees up to date with new technologies and best practices in cloud monitoring by encouraging continuous learning and providing development opportunities. 
   • Promotion of collective learningIt is important to encourage collaboration and knowledge sharing between team members in order to utilise collective expertise and insights.
4. Automation and integration
   • Rationalisation of the monitoring processCloud monitoring automation helps companies to rationalise monitoring processes and reduce manual effort.
   • Automate routine tasksWith the help of automation tools and scripts, companies can automate routine tasks such as configuration management, data collection and alarm notification. 
   • Integration with IT management systemsIntegration of IT management systems with monitoring tools is crucial to enable seamless data exchange and correlation. 

By considering these organisational, infrastructural and personnel aspects, companies can develop an effective cloud monitoring strategy to ensure the performance, availability and security of their cloud-based resources and services.

Monitoring the cloud infrastructure and performance

Cloud Monitoring acts as a guardian for your organisation's cloud-based operations, ensuring seamless performance and continuity. It enables proactive problem solving through real-time insights and facilitates the optimal utilisation of resources. By deploying a well-defined cloud monitoring strategy, organisations can confidently navigate the complexities of cloud computing, achieve their goals and ensure sustainable growth.