Application Performance Management (APM) is an essential tool that helps firms monitor, measure, and optimize the performance of their applications and IT infrastructure. Specifically, APM can assist with availability, transaction times, and any other performance issues that could potentially impact the user or client experience. It captures various performance metrics from multiple systems, servers, and applications to create a holistic view for problem-solving and improvements.
The APM market has evolved drastically over the years to adapt to changing technologies, enterprise infrastructure, and deployments. In the early 2000s, when enterprises used simpler applications that directly accessed a database, APM served as a performance analyzer. However, as developers started building more complex networking and distributed applications, they realized it was very difficult to debug and detect problems. This, coupled with the growth of data centers and use of cloud/SaaS, resulted in APM quickly becoming a critical solution for enterprises.
In fact, Gartner predicted that enterprises will increase the percentage of applications they monitor with APM tools from 5 percent in 2018 to 20 percent in 2021 (Source).
The most effective APM tools provide real-time performance issue alerts and the generation of reports that help IT teams repair, improve, and update applications. Firms that are using APM tools often hold a competitive advantage, because they are able to resolve problems faster, at a higher volume, and with more insight.
Some additional benefits of APM tools include:
For an enterprise, it is much more than just building great applications to solve dire problems. An enterprise must also continue to deliver, monitor, and optimize applications effectively to give their customers and clients a seamless and satisfactory experience.
There are certain problems that APM tools are purpose-built to solve efficiently and effectively. However, there are just as many problems that APM solutions cannot solve alone.
Service providers often market APM tools towards both business and IT users. APM is very IT-focused, with IT-related metrics, for IT use cases. For example, when an application is failing or performing slowly, you normally call someone from the IT support desk. They will have a mechanism to escalate the issue to solve it. If they are going to detect and resolve the issue, they will likely have to use an APM tool. Business users rarely have direct interaction or usage of an APM tool.
Additionally, many IT organizations are using fragmented approaches to performance management. Many APM tools fail to unify their siloed enterprise landscape. With this approach, it is difficult to view specific inefficiencies or connect the dots to see how applications are performing as a whole.
Finally, while APM solutions can collect metrics and alert users when issues arise, there are significant limitations with the type of insights these metrics can produce. Specifically, these types of tools are very IT-focused and do not produce business-level metrics. This means they often cannot diagnose, de-bug, or perform root-cause analysis of business applications.
A few examples of business-level questions in the Financial Industry that are not solved by APM tools include:
These are the kinds of high-level business inquiries both middle and back office people are tasked with. APM tools are unable to answer anything about these questions. These issues are better addressed by looking at business-level metrics.
The PeerNova® Cuneiform® Platform provides end-to-end (E2E) data quality, visibility, and observability for real-time application performance monitoring.
The solution allows firms to rapidly define and deploy data quality rules and process correctness controls across their systems, applications, and workflows. Through automation and ongoing data quality checks, business leaders can confidently gain accurate metrics, insights, and KPIs to make informed decisions.
By breaking down silos and obtaining E2E visibility, business users can proactively monitor their business activity and change management. The platform produces relevant business level metrics that can help business users perform root-cause analysis and identify bottlenecks themselves. Because the platform is a complex distributed application, the solution plugs into, hooks, and integrates with client’s current APM tools.
Enterprises can bring new products to market faster and improve existing workflows and processes without heavy IT support. This operational transformation results in top-line revenue growth and client satisfaction.
PeerNova’s Cuneiform Platform’s business monitoring tools coupled with client’s current APM solutions provide enterprises with the data quality metrics, E2E visibility, and performance monitoring they need to succeed.
If you are interested in learning more about how the Cuneiform Platform can help your enterprise, please get in touch with us and request a demo today. You can also watch the supplemental video featuring PeerNova’s Founder and CEO, Gangesh Ganesan.
Sources:
The Evolving Needs of Application Performance. Link.
