Top 5 Essential Features of a Remote Monitoring System

Do you have mission-critical gear and sensors to monitor at your distant remote sites?

It's unacceptable for your customers to know about a problem with your equipment before you do. Without a man stationed at each of your remote sites, how can you possibly know the status of your equipment?

What is a remote monitoring system? It is a networked system that allows you to manage devices from a remote location.

These monitoring systems automate processes and boost efficiency by providing reliable, remote visibility over critical equipment and environmental conditions. In industries where uptime is essential, such as telecommunications and utilities, a single moment of oversight can lead to costly downtime. Through constant monitoring of network elements, environmental factors, and equipment status, the system allow teams to proactively address issues before they escalate. For instance, by monitoring battery levels, temperature, and equipment health, these systems enable quick, data-driven responses that prevent failures, reduce the need for manual site visits, and optimize resource allocation.

Using Remote Monitoring Solutions to Achieve Real-Time Network Visibility

By deploying remote monitoring equipment at your sites, you'll now have the visibility you need to monitor and control your network. As your company's network operator, you need to be the first to know about an emergency. Nobody can afford to periodically check their equipment when they have multiple remote locations.

With proper remote monitoring techniques, you'll be able to respond to network problems and fix them before they cause serious damage. You have to use the right monitoring solution. Choosing a poorly designed or limited system will only trick you into a false sense of security. You'll think your network is protected, but in reality, your limited solution is leaving you vulnerable.

The 5 Essential Remote Monitoring System Features

In your remote monitoring system, it's important that you have a competent remote monitoring and management (RMM) software. RMM tools are responsible for making sure you are always aware of the health and status of your remote equipment.

So, if you want the best monitoring system, then you'll want to look for - at a minimum - these 5 essential features:

1. Live analog monitoring
   Without the right analog sensor technology, you can't monitor critical environmental conditions. A basic discrete sensor can only provide you with a binary "on/off" information. It will only tell you if the temp is too high, for example.
   Discrete sensors are limited, so make sure you have live analog monitoring for data collection. Analog sensors can give you precise readings. For example, the temperature of your server room is 84.2 degrees or the battery level has dropped to 8%.
2. Multiple alert methods
   Monitoring systems that only provide internal alerts to your NOC don't give you any versatility. Support for 24/7 alert capability (via email, pages, voice alerts, or SMS text messages) is critical. Emergencies and natural disasters don't keep standard business hours. Having multiple alert methods prevents all types of disasters for both residential and commercial systems, including frozen pipes, leaking water heaters, failed sump pumps, and condensate pump failures.
3. Easy setup and configuration
   A good monitoring system won't require excess training to use. It won't create confusion for your employees when they try to manage alarms. Plug 'n' play and a user-friendly graphical web interface are essential features of any good remote monitoring system. Using a web interface allows you to manage your alarm network from any computer - without the extra hassle.
4. Backup data transport
   Don't rely solely on your primary network to report alarms. If there are any problems with your data transport, you'll lose critical visibility of your remote sites. If your network is down for some reason, this is the time when you need visibility the most.
   Your alarm notification system should support backup method of transporting data - dial-up, wireless, fiber, etc. The right backup reporting guarantees your network is still monitored even if your primary data transport goes down.
5. Reliable hardware
   The last piece of equipment to fail should be your remote monitoring system. You can't afford to leave your network's security in the hands of cheaply built equipment that's not ready for the job.

Finding the Best Monitoring Remote Telemetry Unit

Picture how much easier managing your network will be if you're able to view the status of all your sites. With a remote monitoring system, you'll no longer have rude surprises when there's a problem with your network. You can guarantee you'll be the first person to know about an emergency - not the last.

You're serious about protecting your network up-time (and your bottom line). Don't let your remote monitoring project turn into a nightmare - contact us at DPS Telecom for a free consultation. We'll answer your questions and help you design a monitoring solution for your network.

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