Summary
Monitoring and alerting are crucial for effective data management, and Azure reporting tools can help you achieve it. In this comprehensive guide, we explore the 9 best Azure reporting tools for monitoring and alerting, including Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, and more.
We provide an overview of each tool’s features and benefits, and explain how they can help you improve your data management efficiency
If you’re using Azure, you know how important it is to have a reliable monitoring and alerting system in place.
Without it, you could miss critical issues that could impact your business.
That’s why it’s essential to have the best Azure reporting tools to help you keep track of your resources and identify any potential problems.
Azure offers a range of monitoring and reporting tools to help you keep track of your resources. These tools can provide additional insights into your resources and help you identify potential issues before they become major problems.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at some of the best Azure reporting tools for monitoring and alerting, so you can choose the right tools for your needs.
Top Azure Reporting Tools for Monitor and Alarm
When it comes to monitoring and alerting in Microsoft Azure, there are several reporting tools that can help you keep an eye on your resources, applications, and infrastructure.
In this section, we will cover some of the best Azure reporting tools for monitoring and alerting, including Log Analytics, Application Insights, Azure Monitor, Site24x7, New Relic, Splunk, Cerebrata, CloudMonix, and Nodinite.
1. Azure Monitor
Azure Monitor is a built-in monitoring solution in Azure that provides a unified view of your resources. It allows you to collect and analyze telemetry data from a variety of sources, including applications, infrastructure, and Azure services.


Image source: Microsoft Learn
With Azure Monitor, you can collect and analyze metrics, logs, and activity data, and get insights into the health and performance of your environment.
You can also create alert rules and notifications to get notified when there are issues or anomalies.
Example of a dashboard for in Azure monitor


Image source: Microsoft
Key features of Azure Monitor
- Provides real-time monitoring and alerting for applications and infrastructure
- Offers customizable dashboards and reports for in-depth analysis
- Supports integration with other Azure services and third-party tools
2. Log Analytics
Log Analytics is a service in Azure that helps you collect and analyze log data from different sources, including Azure resources, Windows and Linux servers, and applications.


Image source: Microsoft
With Log Analytics, you can monitor your environment in real-time, detect issues and anomalies, and troubleshoot problems.
You can also create custom queries and dashboards to visualize your data and get insights into your environment.
Key features of Log Analytics
- Collects and analyzes log data from various sources, including Azure services and on-premises environments
- Provides powerful search and query capabilities for fast troubleshooting
- Offers built-in dashboards and alerts for proactive monitoring
3. Application Insights
Application Insights is a service in Azure that helps you monitor the performance and behavior of your web applications and mobile apps.
Example of a dashboard in Microsoft Application Insights


Image source: Microsoft
With Application Insights, you can track metrics such as response time, availability, and user behavior, and get alerts when there are issues or anomalies.
You can also use Application Insights to diagnose and troubleshoot problems, and to optimize your application for better performance.
Key features of Application Insights
- Provides end-to-end monitoring and diagnostics for web applications, including performance and usage metrics
- Offers powerful analytics and visualization tools for deep insights
- Supports integration with other Azure services and third-party tools
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4. Site24x7
Site24x7 is a cloud-based monitoring and alerting solution that can help you monitor your Azure resources, applications, and infrastructure.


Image source: Site24x7
With Site24x7, you can track metrics such as CPU usage, memory usage, and disk usage, and get alerts when there are issues or anomalies.
You can also use Site24x7 to monitor your website uptime, and to troubleshoot problems in real-time.
Key features of Site24x7
- Provides comprehensive monitoring and alerting for websites, servers, and applications
- Offers real-time performance metrics and reports for proactive management
- Supports integration with other Azure services and third-party tools
5. New Relic
New Relic is a cloud-based monitoring and alerting solution that can help you monitor your Azure environment and applications.


Image source: New Relic for Azure
With New Relic, you can track metrics such as response time, throughput, and error rate, and get alerts when there are issues or anomalies.
You can also use New Relic to diagnose and troubleshoot problems, and to optimize your application for better performance.


Image source: New Relic for Azure
Key features of New Relic
- Provides end-to-end monitoring and analytics for applications and infrastructure, including cloud and on-premises environments
- Offers real-time performance metrics and alerts for proactive management
- Supports integration with other Azure services and third-party tools
6. Splunk
Splunk is a cloud-based monitoring and alerting solution that can help you monitor your Azure environment and applications.


Image source: Splunk for Azure
With Splunk, you can collect and analyze logs and metrics from different sources, and get insights into the behavior and performance of your environment.
You can also use Splunk to create custom dashboards and alerts, and to troubleshoot problems in real-time.
Key features of Splunk
- Collects and analyzes machine data from various sources, including Azure services and on-premises environments
- Provides real-time insights and alerts for proactive monitoring
- Offers customizable dashboards and reports for in-depth analysis
7. Cerebrata
Cerebrata is a cloud-based monitoring and alerting solution that can help you monitor your Azure environment and resources.


Image source: Cerebrata
With Cerebrata, you can track metrics such as CPU usage, memory usage, and network usage, and get alerts when there are issues or anomalies.
You can also use Cerebrata to monitor your Azure Service Health, and to troubleshoot problems in real-time.
Key features of Cerebrata
- Provides comprehensive monitoring and management tools for Azure Storage
- Offers real-time metrics and alerts for proactive management
- Supports integration with other Azure services and third-party tools
8. CloudMonix
CloudMonix is a cloud-based monitoring and alerting solution that can help you monitor your Azure environment and resources.


Image source: Cloudmonix
With CloudMonix, you can track metrics such as CPU usage, memory usage, and network usage, and get alerts when there are issues or anomalies.
You can also use CloudMonix to monitor your Azure Advisor recommendations, and to troubleshoot problems in real-time.
Key features of CloudMonix
- Provides end-to-end monitoring and automation for cloud services, including Azure
- Offers real-time performance metrics and alerts for proactive management
- Supports customizable dashboards and reports for in-depth analysis
9. Nodinite
Nodinite is a cloud-based monitoring and alerting solution that can help you monitor your Azure environment and resources.


Image source: Nodinite
With Nodinite, you can track metrics such as CPU usage, memory usage, and network usage, and get alerts when there are issues or anomalies.
You can also use Nodinite to perform root cause analysis and to troubleshoot problems in real-time.
Key features of Nodinite
- Provides comprehensive monitoring and management tools for business-critical applications and processes
- Offers real-time performance metrics and alerts for proactive management
- Supports integration with other Azure services and third-party tools
Why Azure Reporting Tools are Important
As an Azure user, you need to have a clear understanding of the performance, availability, and health of your resources and services.
Azure reporting tools are essential for monitoring and alerting, providing you with real-time insights and notifications about changes, logs, and events that affect your applications and infrastructure.
Real-time Monitoring
Azure reporting tools enable you to monitor your cloud services and on-premises resources in real-time. With Azure Monitor, you can collect and analyze metrics and logs from your applications and infrastructure, and create custom alerts and actions based on specific conditions and thresholds.
Azure Monitor also provides you with insights into the performance and availability of your resources, helping you troubleshoot issues and optimize your applications.
Alerting
Azure reporting tools allow you to set up alerts and notifications for critical events and conditions that affect the health and security of your resources.
Azure Monitor enables you to create alerts based on metrics, logs, and activity logs, and send notifications to various channels such as email, SMS, and webhook.
Azure Security Center provides you with alerts and recommendations for improving the security of your Azure resources and applications.
By using Azure reporting tools, you can automate monitoring and alerting, reduce downtime, and improve the overall performance and availability of your applications.
With real-time insights and notifications, you can take proactive actions to prevent issues before they affect your users and customers. Azure reporting tools also help you optimize costs by identifying unused resources and reducing unnecessary spending.


Conclusion: Reporting and Monitoring with Azure Tools
In this article, you have learned about the best Azure reporting tools for monitoring and alerting. By using Azure Monitor, you can gain visibility into your resources and fix problems, optimize performance, and understand customer behavior.
To ensure that your system remains healthy, it is important to collect monitoring data. Azure Monitor collects data from various data sources, including Azure services, and provides full-stack observability across applications and infrastructure.
To monitor your Azure resources, you can use various tools such as Log Analytics, Application Insights, Azure Monitor, and others. These tools allow you to manage and monitor your Azure Serverless Components, track the availability of the system, and its component elements.
When it comes to alerts, Azure Monitor provides a unified hub for all monitoring and diagnostics data in Azure. You can configure alerts based on metrics, logs, and activity logs, and receive notifications through various channels such as email, SMS, and webhook.


Best practices for Azure monitoring
In addition to these tools, it is important to follow best practices for continuous monitoring with Azure Monitor. Some of these best practices include setting up a monitoring strategy on hybrid/public cloud, defining monitoring goals, and creating a monitoring plan.
By following these best practices and using the right tools, you can ensure that your Azure resources are monitored effectively, and you can quickly identify and fix issues before they impact your customers.
FAQ: Best Azure Reporting Tools for Monitoring and Alerting
What are the best Azure monitoring tools?
• Azure Monitor: A comprehensive solution for collecting, analyzing, and acting on telemetry from your applications and the Azure resources that support them. It can also monitor critical on-premises resources to provide a hybrid monitoring environment.
• Log Analytics: A cloud-based platform that provides an innovative method to unify the monitoring of different Azure services, including combinations with services on other platforms.
• Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) Reporting and Monitoring: A tool that allows you to investigate and respond to alerts across your entire environment, from cloud-based to hybrid environments.
How do I choose the best Azure reporting tool?
When choosing the best Azure reporting tools for your needs, it’s important to consider several factors, including:
• Your budget: Some Azure reporting tools are free, while others require a subscription or payment per use.
• Your specific needs: Consider the types of data you need to monitor and report on, as well as the channels you prefer to receive alerts on.
• Ease of use: Look for Azure reporting tools that are easy to set up and use, with intuitive interfaces and clear documentation.
Can I use multiple Azure reporting tools?
Yes, you can use multiple Azure reporting tools in combination to get a comprehensive view of your data.
For example, you can use Power BI for data visualization and Azure Monitor for monitoring and alerting.
However, using multiple tools can increase the complexity of your reporting solution, so you should carefully evaluate the trade-offs before making a decision.
How much do Azure reporting tools cost?
The cost of Azure reporting tools varies depending on the tool and the pricing model.
Some tools, such as Azure Monitor and Application Insights, have a pay-as-you-go pricing model, while others, such as Power BI, have a subscription-based pricing model.
You should evaluate the pricing options and choose a tool that fits your budget and reporting needs.
Are Azure reporting tools easy to use?
The ease of use of Azure reporting tools varies depending on the tool and your level of expertise.
Some tools, such as Azure Monitor, have a user-friendly interface and require minimal technical knowledge, while others require more technical expertise. You should evaluate the ease of use of each tool and choose a tool that matches your skill level and reporting needs.