Top Tips for IT Infrastructure Monitoring

IT infrastructure monitoring is essential for maintaining your IT resources in good working condition. IT infrastructure includes all business assets that are necessary for the running and support of an organization’s IT Services. They include both physical and virtual assets.

What is IT Infrastructure Monitoring
IT Infrastructure Monitoring involves inspecting business systems to aid diagnosing the performance and availability issues of computer systems and networks.. Issues could be discovered quickly and action taken before problems can escalate.

Infrastructure to be monitored should cover everything that is part of IT resources for your business including the hardware, network, storage devices, and applications.
Monitoring should also take into consideration the complex interactions among IT components and how they affect one another.

Importance of IT Infrastructure Monitoring
Infrastructure monitoring allows businesses to have a real-time view of IT infrastructure in order to support the overall objective of your business.

Infrastructure monitoring lets you track the health and performance of your devices so that you can better identify and fix serious imminent failures before they can shut down your IT operations. By collecting data about infrastructure, you can measure the current status and performance of IT systems. This will make it easier to compare current and past performances to gain unique insights. System activity data can be analyzed to draw recommendations and correct potential future anomalies.

If you don’t have infrastructure monitoring in place, you run the risk of having forgotten zombie servers on your network. These are servers that do nothing but consume power and add to your cost of doing business. The lack of an IT infrastructure monitoring can also lead to malware infestation of your system. Without a mechanism for monitoring and flagging suspicious applications or network access, your organization’s system could be completely hijacked without you knowing.

BEST PRACTICES FOR INFRASTRUCTURE MONITORING
It is not enough to have an infrastructure monitoring system but you must do it the right way. Here are some best practices to follow:

1. Prioritize Reports
IT infrastructure generates a large amount of data, hence the need to prioritize notifications in order to isolate important alerts such as server outages.

You should determine the kind of notifications that are most important for your business. You can list them in a descending order starting with the most critical to business function.

Your monitoring software should then be configured to deliver notifications about specific systems to your team.

2. Plan for Redundancy
Your IT infrastructure should be optimally monitored from more than one location especially if you have many data centers.

3. Test and Inspect your Monitoring Process
Don’t just set up alert processes and forget about them. If you’re not receiving alerts it doesn’t necessarily mean that nothing is wrong with your system.

To ensure a properly functioning IT monitoring system, your installed monitoring systems should be inspected for the correct settings and configurations.

The monitoring system should also be tested with anticipated alerts to see how it will perform when it goes live.

4. Choose a Reliable Vendor
As a small business owner, you will often rely on external tools for your IT needs. Since there are many product offerings out there, only select products from reliable vendors that offer support and consultation to get the most value from your purchase.

5. Review Your Monitoring Metrics Regularly
Due to changes in your business priority and goals the metrics and KPIs you use in configuring your alert system may need to be modified.
This is because the initial threshold you said might be too high or too low to handle your current business goals.

INFRASTRUCTURE TO MONITOR
Items to monitor as part of the infrastructure monitoring process should include the following:

1. Hardware
Hardware needs to be regularly monitored for performance and errors. Items to be monitored can include power and battery life, load sensors, fan speed, drive health and other important systems. This will help you identify malfunctioning or failed devices.

2. Network
You can monitor the network of your system by tracking the transfer rates and connectivity status. With this setup, you can detect an unauthorised user on your network or troubleshoot connectivity issues quickly.

3. Applications
Software is an important part of running a business IT infrastructure.
Through application monitoring, businesses can also learn about users’ behaviour on a particular application to draw insights and identify new business opportunities.

4. Virtual Systems
A large part of modern business IT includes resources on the cloud or virtual machines. In order to keep these resources in optimal state, virtual systems must be monitored as well.

5. Operating System (OS)
The operational capacity of an OS can determine the speed and efficiency of running specific applications on it or its response to client requests. Metrics such as CPU speed, memory and error logs are useful for detecting problems earlier in business systems. They can also tell whether your current system has the optimal capacity to support your business needs.

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As IT resources become more complex, more data is generated, hence the need for efficient monitoring to separate important system messages from the noise.

The right IT infrastructure monitoring tools allows IT experts to efficiently spend their time on high-value issues rather than battling to save a business from avoidable problems.

Effective monitoring requires deep knowledge of an organization’s IT infrastructure. As a small business owner with limited resources, securing the services of an MSP such as SDTEK will ensure that you cover all the bases of IT infrastructure monitoring.

Common IT Security Compliance Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

June 17, 2025
Meeting IT security compliance standards is crucial for businesses that handle sensitive data, particularly in industries such as healthcare, finance, defense, and e-commerce. Regulatory frameworks such as HIPAA, CMMC, PCI-DSS, and GDPR exist to help ensure businesses protect customer information and maintain robust cybersecurity practices. Unfortunately, many organizations fall short of these requirements, often due to common, avoidable mistakes. These gaps can result in costly fines, data breaches, and reputational damage, which can significantly impact the business's bottom line and customer trust. 1. Failing to Conduct Regular Risk Assessments The Pitfall: Many businesses overlook the importance of conducting routine risk assessments. Without these, it’s challenging to identify vulnerabilities or evaluate whether your current cybersecurity controls meet compliance standards. How to Avoid It: Implement a regular risk assessment schedule. Work with a qualified IT provider to evaluate your systems, identify weaknesses, and document remediation plans. These assessments should be performed at least annually, or whenever significant changes to the system occur. 2. Inadequate Employee Training The Pitfall: Your employees are your first line of defense—and often your most significant vulnerability. A common compliance issue arises when businesses fail to train staff on cybersecurity best practices or on handling sensitive data appropriately. How to Avoid It: Invest in ongoing cybersecurity awareness training. Ensure employees understand how to recognize phishing emails, create strong passwords, and report any suspicious activity. Training should be updated regularly to reflect current threats and compliance requirements. 3. Improper Data Handling and Storage The Pitfall: Storing sensitive data in unsecured locations, failing to encrypt information, or retaining data longer than necessary are significant compliance risks. These practices are often flagged during audits. How to Avoid It: Adopt data classification policies that define how different types of data should be handled; encrypt sensitive data both at rest and in transit. Establish clear data retention policies and ensure that obsolete data is disposed of securely. 4. Lack of Incident Response Planning The Pitfall: When a security incident occurs, time is of the essence. Many businesses lack a documented incident response plan, or their existing plan hasn’t been thoroughly tested. This can lead to delayed responses, increased damage, and regulatory penalties. How to Avoid It: Develop a formal incident response plan that includes roles, responsibilities, communication protocols, and steps for containment and recovery. Run simulated breach scenarios with your IT team to ensure everyone knows how to respond effectively. 5. Using Outdated Software or Systems The Pitfall: Running outdated operating systems, software, or firmware is a common issue that can lead to compliance failures. Unsupported technologies are more vulnerable to exploitation. How to Avoid It: Keep all systems and applications up to date with the latest patches. Use automated tools to track software versions and receive alerts about end-of-life technologies. Schedule regular maintenance windows to apply updates and upgrades. 6. Insufficient Access Controls The Pitfall: Allowing too many employees access to sensitive data—or failing to revoke access when it’s no longer needed—can lead to data breaches and non-compliance. How to Avoid It: Implement role-based access controls and follow the principle of least privilege. This principle means that each user should have the minimum level of access necessary to perform their job. Regularly audit user accounts and permissions to ensure access is current and appropriate. Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an additional layer of protection. 7. Neglecting Third-Party Vendor Risks The Pitfall: Businesses often overlook the fact that their compliance responsibilities extend to third-party vendors. If a vendor mishandles your data, you could still be held accountable. How to Avoid It: Vet third-party vendors carefully. Ensure they meet the same compliance standards as your business and include security requirements in your contracts. Conduct periodic audits or request compliance certifications from your vendors. 8. Failing to Document Policies and Procedures The Pitfall: Even if your security practices are strong, failing to document your compliance policies can result in audit failures. Regulators want to see evidence that you have formal processes in place. How to Avoid It: Create and maintain clear documentation for all compliance-related policies, including data protection, access control, incident response, and employee training. Make these documents easily accessible for audits and regularly review them to ensure updates are current. Conclusion Compliance with IT security standards is not a one-time project—it requires ongoing attention, regular updates, and a proactive approach to maintain effectiveness. By understanding and addressing these common pitfalls, your business can stay ahead of regulatory requirements, strengthen its security posture, and reduce the risk of costly incidents. This ongoing attention is crucial to maintaining your business's security and audit readiness. If you’re unsure whether your business is meeting current IT compliance standards, professional support can help. Contact SDTEK today to schedule a compliance assessment and learn how our IT services can keep your business secure and audit-ready. With our support, you can navigate the complex landscape of IT security compliance with confidence.

Why Cybersecurity and Business IT Support Are Crucial for Fort Wayne Businesses

April 9, 2025
In today’s digital-first world, cybersecurity isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity. Whether you run a small startup or a growing enterprise in Fort Wayne , protecting your business’s data, systems, and clients is essential for long-term success. From ransomware attacks to phishing scams, cyber threats are evolving every day, and the best way to stay ahead of them is by partnering with a reliable IT services provider that understands the unique needs of local businesses. Here’s why investing in professional business IT support is one of the smartest decisions Fort Wayne businesses can make—and how working with SDTEK helps protect your operations, your data, and your reputation.