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Automations
Top 7 Windows Server Monitoring Tools 2025: 1. Level 2. Datadog 3. Zabbix 4. SolarWinds 5. PRTG 6. OpManager 7. Netdata
Level
Thursday, January 9, 2025
Windows servers are the foundation of your organization's IT operations. From hosting important applications to managing cloud services, their performance directly impacts productivity and business outcomes.
However, with increasing IT workloads and evolving threats, tracking Windows server performance can feel overwhelming for many organizations.
This is where server monitoring tools come in. These solutions provide the visibility and control you need to identify server issues before they escalate.
In this article, we'll break down the best Windows server monitoring tools. But first, let's look into what they entail and the type of performance metrics to track.
Windows server monitoring is the process of tracking the performance, health, and security of Windows server environments.
It collects real-time data, analyzes different server performance metrics, and evaluates event logs. The goal is to keep servers running efficiently so they can handle workloads without interruptions.
After understanding the definition of Windows server monitoring, you might be curious to learn which specific metrics you should track. Let's break each one below:
Below are the best Windows server monitoring tools. We included various options to fit every budget and IT environment.
Level is a modern remote monitoring and management or RMM software built for internal IT departments and managed service providers (MSPs). It offers a centralized dashboard that lets organizations track and manage Windows servers in real time.
Additionally, Level's server monitoring tools provide insight into connection status, network usage, application processes, and more. Combined with instant alerts, they help IT professionals address issues before they become serious.
What sets Level apart is its focus on efficiency. It includes powerful automation tools that handle routine tasks, like system checks, file backups, and patch management.
Automated patch management guarantees that applications and servers are running the latest version for optimal performance. Regular updates can also protect operating systems from emerging security threats.
On top of these capabilities, Level exceeds the privacy requirements set by regulatory bodies. It can keep sensitive company information confidential.
Level offers a complete monitoring solution for Windows environments. It enables organizations to stay on top of their infrastructure's health from a single dashboard.
Level also follows a simple and transparent pricing model. It charges businesses only $2 per managed endpoint every month (with a minimum monthly billing of $20). Plus, it can quickly scale up or down based on a company's needs.
Get started with a 14-day free trial today!
Datadog is a unified monitoring tool for Windows servers and networks. It provides full-stack visibility to help IT managers detect, analyze, and resolve issues quickly.
Datadog can support both cloud-based systems and physical machine servers. It is designed for organizations with complex, hybrid IT environments.
This server monitoring tool can also provide smart insights and alerts. It can secure networks, optimize cloud spending, and identify root causes to prevent the same problems from reoccurring.
Datadog is known for its comprehensive monitoring capabilities. It provides insights into networks, applications, and users across multi-cloud, hybrid, and on-premises environments.
The platform can even integrate with several third-party systems and apps. This prevents the need for tool switching and increases IT efficiency.
Some organizations find Datadog's pricing to be on the higher side, which may impact budget considerations.
Datadog also has a steep learning curve due to its extensive features and visualization dashboards.
Zabbix is an open-source solution for Windows server monitoring. It helps IT teams track system performance, availability, and security at a low cost.
Zabbix offers detailed insights into server health through custom dashboards and automated alerts. It can also collect data, such as Windows service states, memory usage, and CPU performance, for a complete view of a company's IT environment.
Plus, its real-time performance monitoring capabilities can be extended. It uses the Zabbix agent to support custom commands and scripts.
As an open-source monitoring solution, Zabbix is free to use. It is a budget-friendly option for organizations of all sizes.
Zabbix can collect and analyze different Windows metrics to help companies maintain optimal server performance.
Zabbix is difficult to set up and use. This steep learning curve can require extended training periods, which can impact productivity.
The complicated interface can also affect user experience and ease of navigation.
SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor is a powerful tool for monitoring server and application performance hosted on Windows environments. It provides deep insights into hardware and software health. This helps IT teams identify and resolve issues quickly for optimal performance.
This Windows server monitoring software can also visualize relationships between servers and applications. It can determine root causes to troubleshoot problems and reduce downtime.
SolarWinds can even generate detailed charts and metrics to identify which resources require optimization or reallocation. These can also find and fix server capacity issues before they impact operations.
SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor offers several use cases, from hybrid cloud monitoring to server planning and forecasting.
It can seamlessly connect to other SolarWinds Observability solutions for additional features. These include flow monitoring, log analysis, and server configuration management.
The initial configuration of SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor can be complex. The user interface may also seem outdated to some users. Both factors can impact IT efficiency and lead to lost productivity.
This server monitoring software is also on the pricier side. Its steep cost might be a concern for small organizations.
Paessler's PRTG Network Monitor software is a unified monitoring solution for Windows servers. It tracks performance, availability, and usage across the entire Windows network.
It can handle any Windows Server version for hassle-free performance monitoring. Whether you're running a version based on Windows 8 or 11, PRTG provides real-time insights into key metrics.
Plus, PRTG is a highly customizable server monitoring tool. It can tailor alerts and dashboards to help you identify root causes and address problems.
PRTG's intuitive and customizable design simplifies server monitoring tasks, which can make it accessible for IT teams.
It also offers extensive monitoring capabilities. It can track performance across various network servers, devices, and services.
The platform can only be installed on Windows devices. It is not ideal for IT teams that use Mac and Linux systems.
Plus, PRTG can be expensive for organizations with large networks. It costs thousands of dollars to monitor around 1,000 devices.
ManageEngine OpManager helps IT managers track server performance, troubleshoot issues, and maintain uptime. It monitors key Windows server metrics in real time and delivers actionable insights through customizable dashboards.
In addition to server monitoring, OpManager can also oversee load balancers, routers, switches, printers, and storage devices. It is a helpful solution for organizations that need to manage multiple endpoints using one platform.
ManageEngine OpManager offers extensive monitoring capabilities. It allows users to track performance across various network servers, devices, and services.
It also comes with an intuitive and customizable dashboard that simplifies network management tasks.
OpManager can be resource-intensive, which may impact system performance during peak monitoring times.
It can also face integration issues with third-party apps. Although it connects seamlessly to ManageEngine's digital solutions, integration with other platforms may require additional support.
Netdata is a real-time monitoring tool designed for Windows servers and diverse IT environments. It uses a lightweight agent to guarantee minimal system impact while delivering real-time monitoring.
This server monitoring tool provides granular insights into system health with high-resolution metrics. It can track Windows networks, storage, applications, processes, and more.
Netdata even comes with an interactive dashboard for visualizing performance data. It enables IT managers to detect issues instantly and reduce downtime.
Netdata's intuitive interface and straightforward agent make the platform accessible for all IT teams.
It can also provide live updates and instant notifications. These allow for the immediate detection of network performance issues.
Netdata is not suitable for monitoring multiple servers simultaneously. It can only oversee a single server at a time.
It also lacks security features. Users can log in to the system without requiring passwords or any credentials.
Using any of the best server monitoring software tools above can benefit your IT environment in several ways. Let's take a closer look below:
Monitoring tools offer a detailed view of server performance, including resource usage, network bandwidth, and application responsiveness. These metrics help you identify bottlenecks or inefficiencies in real time.
For example, if a Windows server is under strain due to high CPU or memory usage, you can redistribute workloads or optimize applications.
Thanks to this proactive monitoring, you can reduce latency and keep your IT environment running smoothly. You can also provide a positive experience for end-users.
Downtime can disrupt operations and affect employee productivity.
Fortunately, server monitoring solutions minimize this risk by continuously tracking server health. They can also alert you when issues arise to enable quick resolution. For example, they can detect hardware failure or resource exhaustion before they can lead to a server outage.
By maintaining consistent uptime, server monitoring tools can protect important business processes. At the same time, they help you meet Service Level Agreements (SLAs) to guarantee your operations remain reliable.
Monitoring tools safeguard your servers by detecting unauthorized access, unusual activity, and potential vulnerabilities. For instance, they can flag repeated failed login attempts or sudden spikes in network traffic.
These software solutions can significantly reduce the risk of data breaches and malware attacks. They can also help your organization comply with security standards.
Server monitoring tools can automate routine tasks, such as system checks and resource allocation. They can also combine data from multiple servers. This consolidated view allows your IT team to manage everything from one platform.
Server monitoring software can save valuable time and reduce human-related errors. They can boost your IT department's productivity and make it easier to manage complex technological environments.
The best server monitoring software solutions can save you money in the long run. They can identify resource inefficiencies, so you can prevent unnecessary hardware upgrades or cloud expenses.
These platforms can also catch and address potential failures early. They help your organization avoid costly emergency repairs and extended downtime.
Plus, server monitoring tools can generate detailed reports that help optimize resource usage. They make sure you get the most value from your IT infrastructure.
It's important to select the right Windows server monitoring software if you want to enjoy all the benefits above. Below are some factors to consider:
Make sure the monitoring tool integrates seamlessly with your organization's Windows Server versions, such as 2019, 2022, or 2025. You should also check if it supports Active Directory, Hyper-V, and other Windows-specific components.
Using a compatible tool can close monitoring gaps and reduce setup time.
Look for a monitoring solution that provides real-time insights into CPU, memory, disk usage, and network activity on your Windows servers.
Delayed metrics can prevent you from addressing issues promptly. This might lead to performance bottlenecks or downtime.
Choose a monitoring tool that generates detailed reports specific to Windows server environments. These reports should cover key metrics like uptime, error rates, and application performance.
Advanced analytics are also must-have features. They help predict resource needs and prevent potential failures.
Security is non-negotiable for Windows servers handling sensitive data.
Invest in a monitoring tool that can detect failed login attempts, unauthorized access, and unusual file system changes.
You can also check if it supports Windows security logs. This connection enables proactive threat detection.
Windows server monitoring tools should be straightforward to deploy and configure. Look for a user-friendly interface with pre-configured templates for common Windows services like IIS and SQL Server.
Using simple tools can save valuable time and improve adoption rates.
You should evaluate licensing costs, and whether the tool offers pricing models that align with your organization’s needs.
Some tools provide scalable pricing for small setups and larger environments. This makes it easier to stay within budget.
Finally, reliable support is important for server monitoring tools managing Windows servers.
Make sure the vendor offers prompt customer service via email, phone, or live chat.
You should also check if they provide detailed documentation and regular updates that address Windows-specific issues. Having strong support can minimize operational disruptions.
After selecting the right Windows server monitoring tool, getting the most out of it is your next priority. Proper implementation and ongoing practices make sure you maximize its potential and ROI. Here are some tips to follow:
Real-time notifications are a key feature of many Windows server monitoring tools. While helpful, receiving too many reminders can lead to alert fatigue.
You should configure and set up alerts for the most important metrics, such as CPU, memory, and disk usage. Doing so helps your team focus on actionable notifications.
It's important to review configurations to adapt to changes in server workloads or infrastructure. Regularly adjust thresholds and metrics as your IT environment evolves.
Having the best server monitoring software is meaningless if your IT department doesn't know how to use it.
You should provide hands-on training to make sure your team fully understands the monitoring tool. Work closely with the software vendor to help your employees use the tool efficiently and avoid costly mistakes.
You should link your monitoring tool with ticketing platforms, automation software, backup systems, and other IT management solutions. Doing so can prevent manual data entry and centralize operations for better management.
Level's modern RMM platform transforms the way IT teams monitor Windows environments. It uses a browser-based platform that eliminates the need for complicated software or hardware installations.
Level also provides real-time insights into a company's IT infrastructure. It can track connection status, CPU usage, memory space, and other key metrics to help you stay ahead of potential issues.
Plus, the platform is designed for efficiency. It consolidates multiple functions into a single intuitive interface for simplified IT management.
Book a demo or try Level free for 14 days right now!
The best monitoring tool depends on your needs and budget. Options like Level, Datadog, and SolarWinds offer advanced features for performance tracking, while Zabbix is a free solution worth considering.
You can use server monitoring tools to oversee important Windows server metrics. These include CPU usage, memory, disk space, and network performance.
The best tool varies by use case. Consider Level and Zabbix if you're seeking cost-effective yet powerful monitoring tools. Choose Datadog or SolarWinds for extensive insights into your IT infrastructure.
You can invest in an IT observability platform or a dedicated server monitoring tool to track Windows system performance.
At Level, we understand the modern challenges faced by IT professionals. That's why we've crafted a robust, browser-based Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) platform that's as flexible as it is secure. Whether your team operates on Windows, Mac, or Linux, Level equips you with the tools to manage, monitor, and control your company's devices seamlessly from anywhere.
Ready to revolutionize how your IT team works? Experience the power of managing a thousand devices as effortlessly as one. Start with Level today—sign up for a free trial or book a demo to see Level in action.
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