Environmental monitoring offerings are not things an enterprise invests in on a whim. Every organization has unique infrastructure limitations, climate issues, and monitoring needs, so no one-size-fits-all solution exists. Furthermore, decision makers need to be well versed in the latest environmental monitoring tech available, and in areas such as sensor applications, notification capabilities, and management automation, to make appropriate choices.
 Gina Dickson, product manager for Black Box Network Services, ranks ease of configuration and management, variety of notification options, scalability, reporting and data collection, and variety of sensors available as top concerns for users of environmental monitoring products.
Wi-Fi, Cellular, Power Over Ethernet, And More - Until recently, any active monitoring product needed to be wired to be networked, and it also often needed to be powered independently. But Wi-Fi and cellular technologies have taken up the slack, enabling customers to implement a monitoring system in even remote and infrastructure-constrained locations. Power over Ethernet and USB-based sensors and equipment also negate the thermal impact of the extra hardware and effectively leave the power envelope intact. Many products also offer internal battery backup features to maintain alerts even when most other things have gone down.
Monitor A Variety Of Conditions - The key to any data center’s operation is uptime, but not all data is created equal. For critical systems that handle the most important data, it is vital to monitor a variety of conditions, even those unlikely to affect performance, to ensure against loss and downtime. Key environmental sensor types that can deliver proactive feedback include temperature, humidity, airflow, water leakage, and dry contacts. Power and voltage sensors are also important, even if the power sources have a reliable track record. Other sensors that can be incorporated into an environmental monitoring system include security-based monitors, such as motion detection, intrusion and anti-theft warning systems, and cameras.
Notification Options - A state-of-the-art environmental monitoring system is nothing without notifications, and having options is important to making sure personnel can quickly address critical situations. Common notification options include email, LEDs, audible alarms, beacons, sirens, Web alerts, SNMP, automated phone calls, and SMS.
Ease Of Installation - According to an Upsite Technologies representative, ease of installation is imperative. Most environmental monitoring products don’t require any specialized expertise to install, enabling current IT staff to do the work without additional training. Many products are also designed to be installed by non-technical personnel, so seek these out if technical staff is more limited.
Compatibility With Existing Network Tools - Compatibility is one of the most attractive features for enterprises looking to implement a comprehensive environmental monitoring system. Many products connect to existing network monitoring tools and enhance their capabilities, so users can work with familiar equipment and interfaces to keep tabs on critical systems. |
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Sales@AVTECH.com
AVTECH Software, Inc.