--- title: "Best Network Management Software - 2026 Reviews & Pricing" description: "Find the best Network Management Software for your organization. Compare top Network Management Software systems with customer reviews, pricing, and free demos." source_url: "https://www.softwareadvice.com/network-management/" page_type: "category" language: "en" --- [Home](https://www.softwareadvice.com/) / Network Management Software Software Advice offers objective insights based on verified user reviews and independent product and market research. When our advisors match you to a software provider, we may earn a referral fee. # Best Network Management Software of 2026 Updated October 21, 2026 Written by [Shubham Gupta](https://www.softwareadvice.com/resources/author/sgupta/) Writer Edited by [Carolyn Santa Maria](https://www.softwareadvice.com/resources/author/carolyn-santa-maria/) Senior Editor On this page 1. Popular Comparisons 2. Buyers Guide 3. Related Software Filter products 81 results ### Compare Products Showing 1 - 25 of 81 products #### Company Size - Self-Employed - 2-10 - 11-50 - 51-200 - 201-500 - 501-1000 - 1000+ #### Pricing Options - $$$$$ - $$$$$ - $$$$$ - $$$$$ - $$$$$ ### Compare Products Sort by **Sponsored**: Sorts listings by software vendors running active bidding campaigns, from the highest to lowest bid. Vendors who have paid for placement have a ‘Visit Website’ button, whereas unpaid vendors have a ‘Learn More’ button. **Reviews**: Sorts listings by the number of user reviews we have published, greatest to least. **Average Rating**: Sorts listings by overall star rating based on user reviews, highest to lowest. **Alphabetically (A-Z)**: Sorts listings by product name from A to Z. ### [Site24x7](/cloud-management/site24x7-profile/) - Overall rating: 4.7/5 - Reviews: 397 - Starting price: $10.00/month - Best for: Small businesses - Free trial: Available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview Site24x7 is a cloud-based website and server monitoring platform that helps small to large size businesses monitor websites, servers, clouds, networks, applications and real-time [Read more](/cloud-management/site24x7-profile/) ##### What users love - Comprehensive server and network oversight - Quick and flexible monitor setup - Unified cloud infrastructure visibility ##### To take in mind - Alert noise and configuration issues #### Features ##### Best rated features - Configuration Management: 5/5 - Email Monitoring: 5/5 - On Call Scheduling: 5/5 - Continuous Integration: 5/5 ##### Worst rated features - Predictive Analytics: 3/5 [See all features](/cloud-management/site24x7-profile/#key-features) #### Pricing ##### Starter - Price: $10.00/month ##### Pro - Price: $39.00/month ##### Classic - Price: $99.00/month [See full pricing details](/cloud-management/site24x7-profile/#pricing-and-plans) --- ### [NinjaOne](/remote-support/ninjarmm-profile/) - Overall rating: 4.7/5 - Reviews: 298 - Best for: Value for money - Free trial: Available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview NinjaOne is a unified IT operations platform that serves managed service providers, internal IT teams, and organizations of all sizes across industries. The software is deployed [Read more](/remote-support/ninjarmm-profile/) #### Features ##### Best rated features - Approval Process Control: 5/5 - Scheduling: 5/5 - Uptime Reporting: 5/5 - Network Wide Management: 5/5 [See all features](/remote-support/ninjarmm-profile/#key-features) #### Pricing ##### Plan - Price: Custom - Pricing available upon request [See full pricing details](/remote-support/ninjarmm-profile/#pricing-and-plans) --- ### [Domotz](/it-management/domotz-pro-profile/) - Overall rating: 4.9/5 - Reviews: 126 - Starting price: $1.50/month - Best for: Ease of use - Free trial: Available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview Domotz is a network monitoring and management platform designed for MSPs, IT professionals, system integrators, and enterprises that need complete visibility and operational [Read more](/it-management/domotz-pro-profile/) #### Features ##### Best rated features - Activity Tracking: 5/5 - Network Monitoring: 5/5 - Device Management: 5/5 - Change Management: 5/5 ##### Worst rated features - Real-Time Data: 2/5 - Relationship Mapping: 3.5/5 [See all features](/it-management/domotz-pro-profile/#key-features) #### Pricing ##### Device-Based Monitoring Plan - Price: $1.50/month - Full-featured network monitoring and management priced per device. Start with a free trial—no credit [See full pricing details](/it-management/domotz-pro-profile/#pricing-and-plans) --- ### [TeamViewer ONE](/voip/teamviewer-profile/) - Overall rating: 4.6/5 - Reviews: 11,644 - Starting price: $24.90/month - Best for: Mid-size businesses - Free trial: Available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview TeamViewer ONE is built for IT managers and administrators who need to keep systems running smoothly with limited time and resources. If you’re managing distributed devices, [Read more](/voip/teamviewer-profile/) ##### What users love - Reliable remote support capabilities - Intuitive and user-friendly interface - Convenient multi-device connectivity ##### To take in mind - Expensive and inflexible licensing - Occasional connection reliability issues - Complex access and security concerns #### Features ##### Best rated features - Anomaly/Malware Detection: 5/5 - Audit Trail: 5/5 - Remediation Management: 5/5 - Application Security: 5/5 [See all features](/voip/teamviewer-profile/#key-features) #### Pricing ##### TeamViewer Remote Access - Price: $24.90/month - Billed yearly; Access up to 3 unattended devices ##### TeamViewer Business - Price: $50.90/month - Billed yearly; Access up to 200 unattended devices ##### TeamViewer Premium - Price: $112.90/month - Billed yearly; Access up to 300 unattended devices [See full pricing details](/voip/teamviewer-profile/#pricing-and-plans) --- ### [Pulseway](/network-management/pulseway-profile/) - Overall rating: 4.7/5 - Reviews: 312 - Starting price: $27.00 - Best for: Customer support - Free trial: Available - Free demo: Available #### Overview Pulseway is an integrated IT assets and network monitoring solution designed for IT administrators to remotely monitor and control their business IT resources. The solution [Read more](/network-management/pulseway-profile/) #### Features ##### Best rated features - Data Storage Management: 5/5 - License Management: 5/5 - Project Management: 5/5 - Asset Tracking: 5/5 [See all features](/network-management/pulseway-profile/#key-features) #### Pricing ##### Monthly - Price: $67.00/month - Up to 20 Endpoints/Devices ##### Annual - Price: $44.00/year - When billed annually. ##### 3 Years - Price: $27.00 - When billed for a 3 year plan. [See full pricing details](/network-management/pulseway-profile/#pricing-and-plans) --- ### [SafeDNS](/cybersecurity/safedns-profile/) - Overall rating: 4.7/5 - Reviews: 35 - Starting price: $13.50/month - Free trial: Available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview SafeDNS is a cloud-based internet security and web content filtering service that provides businesses with protection against dangerous, inappropriate and irrelevant sites. The [Read more](/cybersecurity/safedns-profile/) #### Features ##### Best rated features - Reporting & Statistics: 5/5 - Activity Monitoring: 5/5 - Policy Management: 5/5 - User Management: 5/5 ##### Worst rated features - Remote Monitoring & Management: 1/5 - HIPAA Compliant: 4/5 - Real-Time Reporting: 4/5 [See all features](/cybersecurity/safedns-profile/#key-features) #### Pricing ##### Basic Plan - Price: $13.50/month - $0.9 per user per month, minimum 15 users ##### Pro Plan - Price: $30.00/month - $1.5 per user per month. Minimum 20 users ##### Pro + Plan - Price: $55.00/month - $2.2 per user per month. Minimum 25 users. [See full pricing details](/cybersecurity/safedns-profile/#pricing-and-plans) --- ### [PathSolutions TotalView](/network-management/pathsolutions-totalview-profile/) - Overall rating: 4.7/5 - Reviews: 26 - Starting price: $8,900.00one time - Free trial: Available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview PathSolutions TotalView is a network monitoring and troubleshooting solution that helps businesses streamline operations related to server monitoring, network automation, [Read more](/network-management/pathsolutions-totalview-profile/) #### Features ##### Best rated features - Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP): 5/5 - Bandwidth Monitoring: 5/5 - Dashboard: 5/5 - Threshold Alerts: 4.5/5 ##### Worst rated features - IP Address Monitoring: 3/5 - Policy Management: 3/5 - Server Monitoring: 3/5 - Web Traffic Reporting: 3/5 [See all features](/network-management/pathsolutions-totalview-profile/#key-features) #### Pricing ##### Basic - Price: $8,900.00one time [See full pricing details](/network-management/pathsolutions-totalview-profile/#pricing-and-plans) --- ### [ManageEngine OpManager](/it-management/manageengine-opmanager-profile/) - Overall rating: 4.6/5 - Reviews: 344 - Starting price: $95.00/year - Best for: Enterprise businesses - Free trial: Available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview ManageEngine OpManager is a network management solution that includes network and server monitoring, bandwidth analysis, configuration management and fault management. The solution [Read more](/it-management/manageengine-opmanager-profile/) #### Features ##### Best rated features - Multi-Location Monitoring: 5/5 - Health Monitoring: 5/5 - Downtime Tracking: 5/5 - Performance Metrics: 5/5 ##### Worst rated features - Third-Party Integrations: 2/5 - User Management: 2/5 - Vulnerability Scanning: 3/5 [See all features](/it-management/manageengine-opmanager-profile/#key-features) #### Pricing ##### Standard Edition - Price: $95.00/year - The plan is also offered on an perpetual basis starting at $245 ##### Professional Edition - Price: $145.00/year - The plan also offers perpetual license starting from $345 ##### Enterprise (Base Product) - Price: $4,595.00/year - The plan is also available on an perpetual basis starting at $11545 [See full pricing details](/it-management/manageengine-opmanager-profile/#pricing-and-plans) --- ### [NMIS](/network-management/nmis-profile/) - Overall rating: 4.9/5 - Reviews: 11 - Free trial: Available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview NMIS manages a vast array of devices on simple to complex networks. It allows users to extend its functionality with advanced modules to gain access to additional capabilities. [Read more](/network-management/nmis-profile/) #### Features ##### Best rated features - IP Address Monitoring: 5/5 - Alerts/Notifications: 5/5 - Access Controls/Permissions: 4/5 [See all features](/network-management/nmis-profile/#key-features) #### Pricing ##### Basic - Price: Custom - Pricing available upon request [See full pricing details](/network-management/nmis-profile/#pricing-and-plans) --- ### [NG Firewall](/network-management/ng-firewall-profile/) - Overall rating: 4.8/5 - Reviews: 20 - Starting price: $270.00/year - Free trial: Available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview NG Firewall is a cloud-based network security solution that helps businesses monitor network activities and view the status of firewall servers. The application enables managers to [Read more](/network-management/ng-firewall-profile/) #### Features ##### Best rated features - IP Filtering: 5/5 - Content Filtering: 5/5 - Threat Response: 5/5 - Policy Management: 5/5 [See all features](/network-management/ng-firewall-profile/#key-features) #### Pricing ##### Basic - Price: $270.00/year [See full pricing details](/network-management/ng-firewall-profile/#pricing-and-plans) --- ### [Netreo](/network-management/netreo-profile/) - Overall rating: 4.7/5 - Reviews: 29 - Starting price: $6.00/month - Free trial: Not available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview Netreo is a cloud-based IT infrastructure management solution, which helps organizations manage applications, networks and systems. The platform comes with an automated [Read more](/network-management/netreo-profile/) --- ### [OpenNMS](/server-management/opennms-profile/) - Overall rating: 4.9/5 - Reviews: 9 - Starting price: $44,100.00/year - Free trial: Not available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview OpenNMS is an application performance management software designed to help businesses in the healthcare, retail, IT, energy, finance, education, government and other sectors [Read more](/server-management/opennms-profile/) #### Features ##### Best rated features - IP Address Monitoring: 5/5 - Server Monitoring: 5/5 - Remote Monitoring & Management: 5/5 - Monitoring: 5/5 ##### Worst rated features - Dashboard: 3/5 [See all features](/server-management/opennms-profile/#key-features) --- ### [Motadata ObserveOps](/aiops-platforms/motadata-dap-profile/) - Overall rating: 4.7/5 - Reviews: 18 - Free trial: Available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview Motadata ObserveOps is a full-stack observability platform that gives IT and operations teams complete visibility across their infrastructure, networks, and applications. It [Read more](/aiops-platforms/motadata-dap-profile/) #### Features ##### Best rated features - Baseline Manager: 5/5 - Policy Management: 5/5 - Troubleshooting: 5/5 - Network Resource Management: 5/5 ##### Worst rated features - Server Logs: 4/5 [See all features](/aiops-platforms/motadata-dap-profile/#key-features) --- ### [NMSaaS](/log-analysis/nmsaas-profile/) - Overall rating: 4.9/5 - Reviews: 8 - Starting price: $500.00/month - Free trial: Available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview NMSaaS is the next-generation cloud-based enterprise network management solution enabling network managers to monitor & manage from 500 to over 75K devices, without sacrificing [Read more](/log-analysis/nmsaas-profile/) #### Features ##### Best rated features - Network Analysis: 5/5 - Event Tracking: 5/5 - IT Asset Management: 5/5 - Log Collection: 5/5 ##### Worst rated features - Real-Time Notifications: 3/5 - IP Address Monitoring: 3.7/5 - Search/Filter: 4/5 [See all features](/log-analysis/nmsaas-profile/#key-features) #### Pricing ##### Basic - Price: $500.00/month [See full pricing details](/log-analysis/nmsaas-profile/#pricing-and-plans) --- ### [essensys Platform](/product/463257-Connect/) - Overall rating: 5/5 - Reviews: 4 - Starting price: £1,200.00/month - Free trial: Not available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview essensys Platform is a digital tool designed to simplify the process of managing spaces, tenants, and services across various locations. This platform is primarily designed for [Read more](/product/463257-Connect/) --- ### [Splynx](/billing-and-provisioning/splynx-profile/) - Overall rating: 4.8/5 - Reviews: 5 - Starting price: $255.00/month - Free trial: Available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview Splynx is a billing and network management software developed for small and medium-sized Internet providers. Splynx software will be effective for Internet providers that have [Read more](/billing-and-provisioning/splynx-profile/) #### Features ##### Best rated features - Accounting Integration: 5/5 - Third-Party Integrations: 5/5 - Document Management: 5/5 - Invoice Processing: 5/5 [See all features](/billing-and-provisioning/splynx-profile/#key-features) #### Pricing ##### Starter Plan - Price: $255.00/month - Splynx provides full access to all features with a simple, usage-based pricing model. There’s no [See full pricing details](/billing-and-provisioning/splynx-profile/#pricing-and-plans) --- ### [Docusnap ](/network-monitoring/docusnap-profile/) - Overall rating: 4.7/5 - Reviews: 7 - Starting price: €199.00/month - Free trial: Available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview Docusnap – Automated IT documentation, asset management, and license compliance. Docusnap is an IT documentation, asset management, and license management software, trusted by [Read more](/network-monitoring/docusnap-profile/) #### Features ##### Best rated features - API: 5/5 - Compliance Management: 5/5 - Inventory Management: 4.4/5 - Reporting/Analytics: 4.3/5 ##### Worst rated features - Contract/License Management: 2/5 - Data Visualization: 3/5 - Configuration Management: 3.8/5 - Audit Management: 3.8/5 [See all features](/network-monitoring/docusnap-profile/#key-features) #### Pricing ##### Pro - Price: €199.00/month - Docusnap as a rental variant for maximum flexibility. [See full pricing details](/network-monitoring/docusnap-profile/#pricing-and-plans) --- ### [OpManager Nexus](/aiops-platforms/manageengine-opmanager-plus-profile/) - Overall rating: 4.6/5 - Reviews: 46 - Starting price: $1,233.00/year - Free trial: Available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview ManageEngine OpManager Plus is an integrated IT operations management solution that offers comprehensive monitoring capabilities for the entire IT infrastructure. It enables IT [Read more](/aiops-platforms/manageengine-opmanager-plus-profile/) #### Features ##### Best rated features - Data Storage Management: 5/5 - Virtual Machine Monitoring: 5/5 - Customizable Dashboard: 5/5 - Load Balancing: 5/5 ##### Worst rated features - Event Tracking: 2/5 - Capacity Planning: 3.7/5 - Device Auto Discovery: 4/5 [See all features](/aiops-platforms/manageengine-opmanager-plus-profile/#key-features) #### Pricing ##### Subscription - Price: $1,233.00/year - OpManager Plus's subscription pricing starts from $1,233 and goes upto $12,000. ##### Perpetual - Price: $3,095.00 - OpManager Plus's Perpetual pricing starts from $3,095 and goes upto $29,995. [See full pricing details](/aiops-platforms/manageengine-opmanager-plus-profile/#pricing-and-plans) --- ### [Shieldoo](/cloud-security/shieldoo-profile/) - Overall rating: 5/5 - Reviews: 2 - Starting price: $0.49one time - Free trial: Not available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview Shieldoo is a new way of secure connection, no matter where you are, designed to make it easier than ever for individuals and businesses, regardless of their technical knowledge or [Read more](/cloud-security/shieldoo-profile/) #### Features ##### Best rated features - Encryption: 5/5 - Remote Access/Control: 5/5 - Authentication: 5/5 - Two-Factor Authentication: 5/5 ##### Worst rated features - Data Security: 4/5 [See all features](/cloud-security/shieldoo-profile/#key-features) --- ### [theGuard](/network-management/theguard-profile/) - Overall rating: 5/5 - Reviews: 2 - Starting price: $20,000.00one time - Free trial: Available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview theGuard is a cloud-based solution that helps manage IT service management and network monitoring. It provides a range of solutions, such as SmartCMDB, SmartITSM, SmartChange, and [Read more](/network-management/theguard-profile/) #### Features ##### Best rated features - Server Monitoring: 5/5 - Monitoring: 5/5 - Performance Monitoring: 5/5 - Network Provisioning: 5/5 ##### Worst rated features - Data Visualization: 3/5 - Real-Time Reporting: 3/5 - Dashboard: 4/5 [See all features](/network-management/theguard-profile/#key-features) #### Pricing ##### Basic - Price: $20,000.00one time [See full pricing details](/network-management/theguard-profile/#pricing-and-plans) --- ### [ManageEngine RMM Central](/help-desk/manageengine-rmm-central-profile/) - Overall rating: 4.7/5 - Reviews: 9 - Free trial: Available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview With RMM Central, Managed Service Providers can discover, manage, secure and monitor all their clients' devices from a single console. The system offers 8000+ pre-defined [Read more](/help-desk/manageengine-rmm-central-profile/) #### Features ##### Best rated features - For MSPs: 5/5 - Real-Time Notifications: 5/5 - Server Monitoring: 5/5 - Reporting & Statistics: 5/5 ##### Worst rated features - Usage Tracking/Analytics: 4/5 [See all features](/help-desk/manageengine-rmm-central-profile/#key-features) #### Pricing ##### Basic - Price: Custom - Pricing available upon request [See full pricing details](/help-desk/manageengine-rmm-central-profile/#pricing-and-plans) --- ### [LogicMonitor](/network-monitoring/logicmonitor-profile/) - Overall rating: 4.6/5 - Reviews: 119 - Starting price: $4.00/month - Best for: Value for money - Free trial: Available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview LogicMonitor is a cloud-based hybrid IT observability platform that helps mid-market and large enterprise IT teams across healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, retail, [Read more](/network-monitoring/logicmonitor-profile/) #### Features ##### Best rated features - Multiple Data Sources: 5/5 - Configuration Management: 5/5 - Network Monitoring: 5/5 - Remote Monitoring & Management: 4.9/5 ##### Worst rated features - Data Aggregation: 2/5 - IT Monitoring: 2/5 [See all features](/network-monitoring/logicmonitor-profile/#key-features) #### Pricing ##### Infrastructure monitoring - Price: $22.00/month - Per resource/month billed annually ##### Cloud IaaS monitoring - Price: $22.00/month - Per resource/month billed annually ##### Wireless Access Points - Price: $4.00/month - Per resource/month billed annually [See full pricing details](/network-monitoring/logicmonitor-profile/#pricing-and-plans) --- ### [VMware NSX](/network-security/vmware-nsx-profile/) - Overall rating: 4.7/5 - Reviews: 3 - Free trial: Not available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview VMware NSX enables the secure, elastic and multitenant cloud with full-stack network and security virtualization. It helps connect and protect application workloads across data [Read more](/network-security/vmware-nsx-profile/) #### Features ##### Best rated features - Access Controls/Permissions: 4.3/5 - Threat Response: 4/5 - Activity Monitoring: 4/5 - Reporting/Analytics: 4/5 [See all features](/network-security/vmware-nsx-profile/#key-features) --- ### [Bandwidth|Link](/network-management/bandwidth-link-profile/) - Overall rating: 5/5 - Reviews: 1 - Free trial: Not available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview CommandLink provides a global solution that consolidates every carrier and access type, including fiber, ethernet, cable, broadband, 4G/5G/LTE, fixed wireless, and satellite. With [Read more](/network-management/bandwidth-link-profile/) #### Features ##### Best rated features - Alerts/Notifications: 5/5 - Performance Monitoring: 5/5 - Reporting/Analytics: 5/5 - Troubleshooting: 5/5 [See all features](/network-management/bandwidth-link-profile/#key-features) --- ### [Ericsson NetCloud Manager](/iot/netcloud-profile/) - Overall rating: 5/5 - Reviews: 1 - Free trial: Not available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview Ericsson NetCloud Manager is an AI-powered, cloud-native application optimized for cellular networks. It enables secure, scalable management of endpoints that support public and [Read more](/iot/netcloud-profile/) --- 1 [2](https://www.softwareadvice.com/network-management/?__ai_markdown=true&page=2)[3](https://www.softwareadvice.com/network-management/?__ai_markdown=true&page=3)[4](https://www.softwareadvice.com/network-management/?__ai_markdown=true&page=4) ## Popular Comparisons [ NinjaOne vs TeamViewer ONE ](https://www.softwareadvice.com/remote-support/ninjarmm-profile/vs/teamviewer/)[ ManageEngine OpManager vs Site24x7 ](https://www.softwareadvice.com/it-management/manageengine-opmanager-profile/vs/site24x7/)[ N-central vs Pulseway ](https://www.softwareadvice.com/network-management/pulseway-profile/vs/solarwinds-n-central/)[ ManageEngine NetFlow Analyzer vs WhatsUp Gold ](https://www.softwareadvice.com/network-monitoring/manageengine-netflow-analyzer-profile/vs/whatsup-gold/)[ ManageEngine OpManager MSP vs ManageEngine OpUtils ](https://www.softwareadvice.com/network-management/manageengine-opmanager-msp-profile/vs/manageengine-oputils/)[ Domotz vs Auvik ](https://www.softwareadvice.com/observability/auvik-profile/vs/domotz-pro/)[ LogicMonitor vs Netreo ](https://www.softwareadvice.com/network-monitoring/logicmonitor-profile/vs/netreo/) In the world of computers, businesses need to ensure that their network is running properly and efficiently at all times—managing and monitoring your network regularly is becoming more crucial than ever. Network management software helps businesses efficiently optimize their network performance, troubleshoot issues, and protect their IT networks, helping with downtime reduction, better visibility, higher scalability, and enhanced security. However, many small businesses usually find themselves in a tight spot when selecting network management software. On one hand, they want professional-level support and performance from a product. On the other hand, hiring professionals to manage their IT infrastructure needs might not be in the budget. This buyers guide walks you through the basics, common features, key considerations, and some exciting market trends about network management software so that you can make the right choice while selecting the network management solution for your business. Here's what we'll cover: - [What is network management software?](#Whatisnetworkmanagementsoftware) - [Common features of network management software](#Commonfeaturesofnetworkmanagementsoftware) - [What type of buyer are you?](#Whattypeofbuyerareyou) - [Benefits of network management software](#Benefitsofnetworkmanagementsoftware) - [Key considerations for purchasing network management software](#Keyconsiderationsforpurchasingnetworkmanagementsoftware) - [Market trends to understand](#Markettrendstounderstand) ## What is network management software? Network management software allows businesses to centrally manage and control all of their IT devices, as well as track and report the network's performance. Network management software is usually designed with the premise that businesses can successfully use it for basic tasks such as viewing logs, network operations management, and ensuring that their network is running smoothly and securely. The network management system embraces features such as monitoring network components, connected devices, network topology map view, network performance monitoring, tracking network traffic, troubleshooting issues, and generating reports. ## Common features of network management software From security measures to hardware devices, network management software helps you keep track of everything with the right features. All you have to do is keep an eye on some common features, as listed below: | Feature | Description | | --- | --- | | IT asset management | Track, control, and manage your organization’s valuable data and equipment. | | Network provisioning | Allow the network administrator to create and manage network devices, connections, and services, enabling businesses to configure and deploy networks quickly and easily. | | Network performance monitoring | Monitor every network performance issue which will help you identify and correct problems before they cause serious issues. | | Network issue management | Provide a convenient problem-reporting mechanism for users facing any network issues, allowing the network administrator to easily locate and quickly resolve all the problems. | | Remote access | Monitor and control network devices from anywhere and at any time, helping employees work remotely and still be able to access the organization's network. | | Virtual Private Network (VPN) | A well-encrypted network that helps you secure data, safeguard personal information, and facilitate risk-free file sharing between groups remotely. | | Reporting/analytics | Give detailed information about the state of the network (including stats on specific devices, links, protocols, etc.), which will help you determine trends, data patterns, and other insights that need attention. | --- ## What type of buyer are you? Every business (irrespective of size) looks for network management software that can streamline their IT infrastructure management and drive results. However, before considering your network management software options, you must know what type of buyer you are. - **Small to midsize businesses (up to 500 employees):** It gets overwhelming for small to midsize businesses (SMBs) to manage and monitor their entire network at one time and then track down and address network issues manually. In addition, because of budget constraints, many small businesses can't afford to hire experts to handle and optimize their business networks. - Investing in network management tools allows SMBs to monitor their network’s performance, as well as identify and resolve any problems instantly. Network management software enables SMBs with network monitoring, remote management, network topology view, troubleshooting, and more, helping small businesses save both time and money. - **Large enterprises (more than 500 employees):** As the name implies, large businesses typically operate with greater bandwidth using multiple servers across various locations. Also, they commonly have extensive and complex network infrastructure, which requires more advanced tools to monitor and control systems. - An enterprise-class network management tool offers additional features, such as unlimited device monitoring, network automation discovery, multiple IT integrations, and much more to manage, control, protect, and operate their business network more efficiently. ## Benefits of network management software There are several benefits of using a network management system for your small business. Some of the best ones are listed below: - **Downtime reduction:** Network downtime is a serious issue and can affect businesses tremendously, causing inconvenience, a lack of productivity, and a huge loss of money. Network management software monitors your network health and associated hardware, diagnosing the problems and quickly resolving them, ensuring maximum uptime. - **Clear visibility:** Without clear network visibility of your device, your business may be at risk of recurring problems and errors. Network software management with managed IT, as well as detailed network monitoring, helps you increase and improve your overall network device visibility, resulting in better performance and network traffic monitoring. - **Higher scalability:** With growing network demand comes increasing network complexity, and purely manual management may lead to human error. Equipping your business with robust network management software helps keep pace with evolving network management needs, leading to efficient growth and making you more competitive. - **Enhanced security:** Malicious attacks and hacking are on a rapid rise and are not going to stop anytime soon. That being said, small businesses can't afford the risk of security breaches. Network management software offers the right protection, ensuring that all the potential risks and threats get immediate attention. ## Key considerations for purchasing network management software Finding the right network management software that meets your IT management needs can be quite overwhelming. Keep the following considerations in mind when looking for the perfect software to help you narrow down your options: - **Find a software that meets your business requirements:** Select a network management software that can handle all the tasks that your business requires. For instance, if your business needs something to help with network monitoring and performance tracking, be sure that the software vendors you are reviewing have those features. - **Easy to use and implement:** User-friendliness is a critical factor when it comes to purchasing any software, and network management software is no different. Ask yourself while choosing a solution for your business whether or not it's easy to use and gives you actionable insights in real time. - **Fits within your budget:** Due to budget constraints, cost becomes a concern for many small businesses. With this in mind, be sure to choose a network management software that fulfills all your networking needs but doesn’t drain your pocket at the same time. - **Must be fully encrypted:** Hackers are always looking for vulnerable points to exploit within your business, so it becomes crucial for you to invest in well-encrypted network management software that protects your business networks from all threats. - **Provide after-sales support:** Whenever you are choosing network management software, it's crucial to keep a keen eye on after-sales service support offerings that should include phone, email, or chat support. ## Market trends to understand Staying informed about the latest happenings in the network management space helps you stay ahead of the competition. Here are some trends in the network management market to look for: - Increased demand for SASE adoption: Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) technology is an emerging security technology that provides secure access to applications and data located in the cloud or on-premises. SASE helps organizations to protect their sensitive information while allowing authorized users to securely access the information from any device, anywhere. As per [Gartner's predictions](https://blogs.gartner.com/andrew-lerner/2021/03/26/checking-in-on-sase/), by 2025, around 60% of businesses will have clear plans and roadmaps for SASE adoption. - Software-defined wide-area networking (SD-WAN) tech adoption: The move toward remote work has made it imperative for remote workers to use software to access their company's network. Using SD-WAN software, they can access company-wide area networks (WAN) using only software-based entry points. [Gartner forecasts](https://www.gartner.com/en/documents/3969496/forecast-analysis-enterprise-networking-connectivity-gro) that by the end of 2023, 60% of enterprises will implement SD-WAN to increase network agility and improve support for cloud apps. **_Note:_** _The applications mentioned in this article are examples to show a feature in context and are not intended as endorsements or recommendations. They have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable at the time of publication._ ### Related Network Management Software - [API Management Software](https://www.softwareadvice.com/api-management/) - [Content Delivery Network Software](https://www.softwareadvice.com/content-delivery-network/) - [Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) Software](https://www.softwareadvice.com/enterprise-service-bus-esb/) - [Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) Software](https://www.softwareadvice.com/iaas-solutions/) - [Load Balancing Software](https://www.softwareadvice.com/load-balancing/) - [Network Mapping Software](https://www.softwareadvice.com/network-mapping/) - [Network Monitoring Software](https://www.softwareadvice.com/network-monitoring/) - [Network Troubleshooting Software](https://www.softwareadvice.com/category/4786-network-troubleshooting/) - [Virtual Private Server Software](https://www.softwareadvice.com/virtual-private-server/)