PRTG - Dependable Network Monitoring for an SMB
September 18, 2019

PRTG - Dependable Network Monitoring for an SMB

Dan Reynolds | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User

Overall Satisfaction with PRTG Network Monitor

We are a small, mid-sized firm and many of the network monitoring systems are just too big, too complicated and too expensive to meet our needs. I wouldn't say our needs are simple or simplistic but we don't have a large IT department (1-me) to handle that. I guess you could say we have enterprise needs on a shoestring size firm! We need to monitor servers, switches, storage, essential services almost 7x24. Most of the employees work at least part time remotely and our systems have to be up to support that. It has become part of the business model. PRTG effectively monitors and alerts when things are wrong. It has been a crucial part of our infrastructure.

Pros

  • Very, very configurable. You can create all kinds of monitors for all kinds of things. Plus it has loads of suggestions out of the box. It can get complicated but monitoring is complicated. Pretty decent interface and good support - active community.
  • I really liked how easy it was to add alerts by SMS. So easy to setup.
  • I like their sizing models (for purchase). We're actually small enough that we are free. But it's not free as in stripped down - it's free because we don't use many "sensors" and don't honestly have the need.

Cons

  • Although I like their sizing model for pricing they do need an intermediate level at the lower end. The first jump in the pricing model is too big.
  • Because of the complexity of setting up sensors I do have some difficulty understanding what exactly I'm monitoring or what I could monitor. I figure it's there but I just don't have the time or motivation to figure it out. Not entirely sure how to solve that other than educating me...
  • I/we don't actively track ROI - but for me personally it has been a godsend in giving me the confidence that the infrastructure is being watched for me.
I tried some freeware products and Spiceworks. Some of the free/open source stuff was so complicated I couldn't even figure out how to set it up. I used Spiceworks network monitoring but it just wasn't reliable (not Spiceworks Inventory - the network monitor product). I was even a beta tester on the product. I just don't think there were the resources or desire for Spiceworks to make it more than what it turned out to be. PRTG is an enterprise class monitoring product that just happens to be able to be used by any size organization. And that's what we needed.
Even though I have the free product - I have gotten good support when I've needed it. Honestly I haven't needed a lot of support but the few times I did it was readily accessible through their forum. Obviously with the free version you don't get direct support but still any support at all with free is like fantastic.

Do you think PRTG Network Monitor delivers good value for the price?

Yes

Are you happy with PRTG Network Monitor's feature set?

Yes

Did PRTG Network Monitor live up to sales and marketing promises?

Yes

Did implementation of PRTG Network Monitor go as expected?

Yes

Would you buy PRTG Network Monitor again?

Yes

I guess I would have to say for small environments like ours it's perfect and you can't complain about the price - FREE. I have also heard of lots of enterprise situations where it has performed well. As I mentioned before I think one area they miss out on is have a few more intermediate levels on the lower end. For example I have thought that perhaps I could implement more VMware monitoring functions with PRTG but the price of entry point is just too high for us. If there was an intermediate level there maybe it would be more attractive.
But even with that said I LOVE PRTG. It gives me a level of confidence that things are being "watched" that I hadn't had before. In a small firm with very limited staff that is very important.

PRTG Feature Ratings

Network Performance Monitoring
8.7
Automated network device discovery
10
Network monitoring
10
Baseline threshold calculation
6
Alerts
9
Network capacity planning
Not Rated
Packet capture analysis
Not Rated
Network mapping
Not Rated
Customizable reports
7
Wireless infrastructure monitoring
Not Rated
Hardware health monitoring
10

Using PRTG Network Monitor

1 - IT department
1 - An IT person with some basic IT understanding of how things work and specifically how things work in their environment.
  • Monitor overall network health
  • Monitor file server / domain controller / active directory health
  • Monitor Virtual environment health
  • More in-depth virtual environment monitoring
PRTG meets our needs perfectly. We have no reason to look at any other product at this time.

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