APM Application Performance Monitoring systems are essential for achieving an effective and functional user experience.
It is not only a matter of identifying any problems in the set of processes and elements that make up an application, but also of evaluating and monitoring other levels of complexity that affect, for example, the server or storage system.
In other words, APM and related tools are central to any user-centric organizational strategy. Modern expectations are very high when it comes to applications and systems: end users expect them to always work at their best, and even minor failures can be a problem.
The right APM tools allow you to prevent problems, monitor the functioning of the application and the surrounding infrastructure, and guarantee the user the quality they expect.
What is APM: definition of application performance monitoring
Application Performance Monitoring (APM) is a critical process in modern IT, focused on analyzing and monitoring application performance to ensure functionality and effective user experiences. This system is not limited to merely identifying problems in application processes and components, but extends its analysis to more complex levels, such as those related to the server or storage system. APM and related tools are central to an organization’s user-centric strategy, allowing it to prevent problems, monitor the functioning of applications and the surrounding infrastructure, and thus ensure the quality that users expect. Its optimal use is crucial both in the initial deployment of applications and during the release of updates, ensuring that functionality is optimized and the user experience is of high quality.
Here are some of the main areas where APM can demonstrate its benefits:
A brief history and development of APM
The history of Application Performance Monitoring (APM) is deeply intertwined with the evolution of information technology. Originally, APM focused primarily on monitoring basic server and application performance. However, with the advent of more complex and distributed architectures, such as microservices and cloud computing, it has evolved into a more sophisticated and comprehensive tool that incorporates advanced analytics, end-to-end monitoring, and real-time problem detection capabilities. This development has made APM a crucial tool for IT organizations, which use it not only to ensure optimal performance, but also to guide strategic decisions related to application development and optimization.
How APM improves application performance
As we have seen, APM plays a crucial role in optimizing application performance. This tool not only identifies problems in application processes and components, but also provides in-depth monitoring at various levels, including servers and storage systems, ensuring efficient and smooth operation. Through APM, companies can implement end-to-end application monitoring, including microservices and containers, to quickly identify any performance issues. In addition, end-to-end and regression testing performed through APM ensures that the application is functioning as expected, identifying obstacles and inefficiencies along the way and after updates. This continuous and in-depth monitoring allows you to maintain a high level of user experience quality, which is critical to end-user satisfaction and loyalty.
APM Application Performance Monitoring: how to do it right
Achieving improved application performance is therefore a prerequisite for both launch and updates: being prepared is the solution to problems and allows you to achieve better results.
To maximize the benefits of APM Application Performance Management, there are a number of best practices to follow. For example, it is important to be able to configure end-to-end application monitoring using advanced tools that also take into account microservices and containers, for example.
Further benefits come from the adoption of customised alerts and thresholds, which notify users when certain performance levels are not at the set (and desired) levels. This is an important aspect in preventing the IT department from being overwhelmed by the number of elements to consider: technological assistance, in this case, is essential for the success of the project.
4 Essential application performance monitoring tools
There are a number of APM tools that can help organizations monitor application performance. In fact, we could call them essential
Synthetic monitoring
Synthetic monitoring is used to simulate the set of actions that the user will perform when using the application.
On the one hand, this allows any bugs to be identified and corrected; but above all, on the other hand, it allows us to assess whether the application’s usability and performance meet expectations. This is particularly useful, for example, for an e-commerce portal, where any delay in processing a payment can mean losing a customer.
Infrastructure analysis
Applications do not exist in a vacuum, but are deeply connected to the underlying infrastructure. Properly implementing an APM (Application Performance Monitoring) solution means identifying any problems and inefficiencies in the infrastructure elements, from the server to the database to the network used.
Testing: end-to-end and regression
Testing is a central aspect of performance monitoring. For this reason, being able to leverage automated and customizable systems provides the organization with useful information to continue improving the application.
End-to-end tests consider the entire application and serve to verify that, in short, there are no obstacles along the way. Regression tests, on the other hand, are used to repeat the tests each time an update is made, in order to consider whether the update has introduced problems compared to the previous version.
Analytics
Then there are analytics. This is a tool that organizes information to compare test results and then evaluate their quality. In this way, the company can consider which aspects to focus its attention on, which processes need to be improved, and which elements need to be reviewed.
How to choose the right APM tool
When choosing an appropriate APM tool, it is essential to consider several aspects. First of all, it is imperative to assess whether the tool offers end-to-end application monitoring, covering all aspects from the user interface to the database and underlying infrastructure. It is also important that it supports integration with modern technologies such as microservices and containers. In addition, it is essential to verify the ability to customize alerts and performance thresholds for efficient monitoring that does not overload the IT department. Another crucial factor to consider is the ease of use and intuitiveness of the interface, which should allow for quick understanding and analysis of data. Finally, you need to ensure that the tool offers robust analytics for detailed analysis and accurate evaluation of application performance.
Analysis of business requirements and objectives
When choosing an APM tool, a thorough analysis of business requirements and objectives is crucial. It is essential to clearly define what you want to monitor and which performance metrics are most relevant to your business. It is a priority to consider the specifics of your IT environment, such as the presence of microservices or the use of cloud infrastructure, and to verify that the APM tool is able to adapt to these characteristics. Furthermore, it is important that it supports the company’s long-term objectives, both in terms of scalability and technological evolution. This targeted approach ensures that the investment in APM effectively contributes to improving application performance and overall operational efficiency.
Benefits of application performance monitoring
Real-time application performance monitoring offers numerous advantages. First and foremost, it allows you to quickly identify and resolve performance issues, improving the end-user experience. It also provides detailed insight into how applications are performing, allowing you to prevent problems before they affect users. In addition, continuous monitoring and performance analysis help identify areas that need optimization, helping to reduce operating costs and improve overall efficiency.
To summarize, here are some of the most important benefits of Application Performance Monitoring:
Improved productivity
APM significantly improves productivity: it provides developers and IT administrators with essential data that allows them to quickly detect and resolve malfunctions, reducing downtime and improving application stability. This ensures that end users can enjoy reliable, high-performance applications, improving their experience and reducing waiting times. The ability to quickly identify problem areas allows teams to focus on developing new features rather than troubleshooting issues.
Optimization of resource usage
APM also allows you to optimize the use of IT resources by monitoring the efficiency and utilization of the underlying infrastructure. This helps identify and resolve resource wastage, such as excessive CPU or memory usage, ensuring that applications use available resources efficiently. Resource optimization reduces operating costs and improves scalability, enabling applications to handle higher workloads without compromising performance. This is crucial for maintaining the long-term sustainability and efficiency of IT systems.
Why invest in application performance monitoring?
APM is therefore an effective and efficient solution for verifying that applications are working as expected. The most critical aspect—but also the one to prioritize—is ensuring that the application not only continues to function as expected, but also offers the expected quality of user experience. This aspect is crucial for maintaining the relationship with the end user.
APM tools are part of a set of services and consulting that Sorint.Lab offers to companies to make their IT infrastructures agile, scalable, and secure, thanks in part to 24/7 active support.
In this way, organizations can make their processes more effective and reduce the time spent fixing errors and remedying problems.