Why You Must Combine Synthetic and Real User Monitoring

Synthetic and Real User Monitoring

In the realm of application monitoring, there are many topics that are essential in terms of establishing a stable and high-performing application However, none are as important as the use of synthetic and real-user monitoring, which is also referred to as RUM. Perhaps one of the biggest misconceptions within the application monitoring industry is developers only need to use one or the other. While utilizing just one of these two monitoring techniques is an effective way to control and manage your applications, when combines you're given a comprehensive look into the actual performance and stability of your application This advanced-levelform of monitoring is essentialas application continue to evolve into complex components

Benefits of Synthetic & Real-User Monitoring

Before delving into how combining these two techniques benefits the stability and performance of your various Web applications, it's essential to delve into each technique separately The following is a breakdown of the most common benefits associated with synthetic and real-user monitoring
Synthetic Monitoring

Service Disruptions - With the number of components and complexities within the modern application, it's literally impossible to identify all service disruptions until users beginto report errors. Synthetic monitoring continuously interacts with your Web applications inthe exact same manner as a real user. Therefore, if there is any level of service disruptions,the monitor notifies administrator's immediately, which significantly reduces harm caused by critical application service disruptions There are a number of paid andfree tools like EveryStepAutomation that can handle monitoring these types of disruptions

Baseline Performance - The only way for any application monitoring solution to effectively monitor and manage your applications is by establishing baseline performance While many administrator's simply wait for user interactions to establish baseline performances, this is a dangerous technique as critical errors wiII not be identified untiIusers are affected. With synthetic monitoring, application performance is reviewed and measured before being accessed by real users.
This greatly enhances the establishment of baselines,which simultaneously enhances the stability of an application


Real-User Monitoring

Actual Data Collection -While synthetic monitoring gathers data within a controlled environment, real-user monitoring gathers actual data as your users experience the application This data is gathered regardless of user geographic location, browser or device. In this sense, RUM collects information that shines a Iight into the actual performance and stability ot applications

Application Weaknesses - Due to the controlled environment of synthetic tests, identifying application weaknesses is almost impossible However, through RUM, derived data can identify various weaknesses and areas of focus for future deployments


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