By Melanie Grano
If your team is working from multiple locations using different networks, it’s crucial to keep track of your devices while ensuring you have the power to perform IT functions whenever and wherever you need to.
Remote monitoring and management (RMM) is the process of managing IT systems with applications that are monitored and managed by remote service providers, according to Gartner. It helps businesses monitor the health of their computers and software and give IT teams the information they need to respond to any issues in the most efficient way possible. More importantly, it allows them to do all this remotely.
In today’s changing work landscape, the need for RMM has dramatically increased and businesses invest heavily in this area to improve their agility and cybersecurity. Using RMM helps an organization in multiple ways, including:
• Making it easy to manage IT functions from one central location
• Improves IT network visibility
• Streamlines workflows while managing updates, installations and configurations remotely
• Manage IT threats and issues
Remote monitoring and management software
RMM is also referred to as remote IT management. RMM allows you to proactively manage your IT equipment rather than responding reactively, which slows IT operations down and leaves you open to external threats, according to Market Research Future. In most cases, issues are detected and resolved before you’re even aware there was a problem in the first place.
How RMM software works
RMM software is installed on devices and servers. The software is managed by service providers that use small footprints called agents. Those agents give managed service providers (MSPs) all the information they need to manage the health and longevity of a company’s devices. They highlight any issues, and the MSP gets to work to fix problems when they arise.
Alongside handling issues, RMM software also manages system maintenance, which includes anti-virus solutions and keeping devices clean, so they work more efficiently. They generate regular reports for MSPs to quickly gain insight into trends and patterns, and they make it easy to categorize usage data.
An employee examines the user interface of monitoring software. Courtesy Adobe.
Features of RMM software
RMM software is considered essential for any business with multiple IT systems, which is why more vendor solutions are populating the market. When choosing which RMM software is right for you and your business, it’s crucial that you opt for one with an extensive range of features, giving your organization full peace of mind and security. Take a look at the key features below:
• Works on desktop and mobile applications
• Allows for team management and access
• Lets you monitor limitless endpoints
• Two-factor authentication
• Offers network speed tests
• Notifications and alerts to keep you updated
• TCP/HTTP/SSH/Telnet/RDP
• Simple network management protocol monitoring
• Open network video interface forum integration
• Network topology mapping
• Bandwidth analysis
• Collaborative capabilities
Benefits of RMM software
Many businesses opt for RMM software because it makes IT maintenance easier. The benefits that come with this approach are not to be overlooked, so let’s take a detailed look at them:
Reduce major disruptions
When your IT systems face major issues, it results in them being out of action for a long period of time. The time taken to try and resolve those problems can be hugely detrimental to a business, especially if a large portion of your organization depends on using IT systems and software.
Let’s say, for example, you manage customer transactions online or employees need to access a customer database to carry out their role as a customer service agent. That is a large chunk of your business being out of action until the problem is fixed. RMM software dramatically minimizes that issue because problems are usually handled and resolved before they progress into anything major.
More secure
One of the main reasons businesses opt for RMM software is for the security of their network and business. Such software offers huge protection against incidents such as data breaches or cyber-attacks through routine antivirus deployments and constant checkups. RMM software works around the clock to monitor your network and ensure the security of your IT systems — always ready to fight off any impending threats that could destroy your business.
Improved productivity and efficient operations
Managing IT systems requires constant monitoring and surveillance. Trying to do this manually can be time consuming, which wastes a company’s resources, time and effort.
RMM software carries out the majority of system maintenance that you need, meaning that you can focus on core competencies and get on with the work that matters most. Being able to monitor multiple systems from a central dashboard also makes it easier to spot issues that could be slowing down your network performance.
RMM software market
Data management is predicted to be the most outsourced managed service for organizations across the world, and it shows no signs of slowing down. The effects of the global pandemic have only helped to grow the market with more companies working remotely.
The huge revenue of the RMM market could be explained by the large client base it serves. Almost every company has an IT system so clients can range from software companies, retail and e-commerce, hospitality, healthcare or construction. The list is endless.
Some of the top RMM software providers include:
• Ninja RMM
• Atera
• LogMeIn Central
• Auvik
• Microsoft Intune
• N-able N-central
Can you afford not to adopt RMM software?
Today’s world is powered by technology, and software being the backbone of most successful companies. With cyber-crimes becoming increasingly more complex and IT systems growing larger and being used increasingly in multiple different locations, what worked to protect your business previously probably won’t stand the test of time today, let alone in the future. Remote monitoring and management software gives your company’s devices the security and support they need 24/7. Manual processes simply can’t compare.
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• The remote desktop software market
• TeamViewer vs. LogMeIn Rescue: Remote desktop software review