Debunking the Top Ten Myths about Network Monitoring Systems

MYTH #1: The Product with the Most Features Must Be the Best.
The Truth: Network monitoring "mega suite" vendors are notorious for drawing customers in withlarge feature sets—and then charging hefty consulting and training fees for systems
that never get fully configured or deployed. Features don’t always translate to value,
especially when it takes numerous IT specialists to install and maintain the feature set.
A feature’s value drops sharply when it requires several full-time resources to keep it
running.

Critical Mistake: Ignoring the full cost of implementing a feature set—including training, setup, and ongoing support and maintenance.
Best Practice: Ask for proof that critical features are really usable. Test the software on site, and talk to existing customers to get real-world feedback.


MYTH #2: NMS Mega Suites Are Great Because You Can Start Small and Add
Features As You Go.
The Truth: With NMS mega suites, you may become the unwitting owner of a ‘marketecture’—aproduct with features that are fully integrated from a marketing perspective, but
actually stand alone in a technical sense because they were developed separately.
Marketectures sound appealing because they let you start with a limited feature set
and add modules as you need to. But what you generally end up with is a product that
offers very little functionality until all of the modules are in place. You may also find
that each add-on feature is sold separately and has additional separate costs—
including training, integration, professional services, and maintenance.

Critical Mistake: Getting locked into an NMS mega suite and then finding you must purchase a series ofexpensive, non-integrated modules to really make it work.

Best Practice: Be sure you fully understand the license fees, maintenance fees, and integration costsof all add-on modules, even if you feel you don’t currently need them. And try to lock in
future pricing of add-ons. Vendors have a stealthy way of increasing prices on you
once you’re locked into a platform.
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click on the following link for the rest of myths.
http://www.cittio.com/docs/CITTIO_WP_Top10_Myths_7104.pdf