One of the most widely used network monitoring tools available is SolarWinds. It’s not the only tool available, though! We shall examine some SolarWinds alternatives in this blog post for your consideration. These tools are far less expensive while still providing similar features and advantages! Therefore, we offer everything you need, whether you’re looking for a free tool or something more expensive!

One of the most often used tools for network monitoring is SolarWinds. There are other tools available as well, though! We’ll look at various SolarWinds alternatives in this blog article that you could find useful. These tools provide similar capabilities and advantages but for much less money! So, whether you need a free tool or something more expensive, we have what you need!

Spiceworks is the first option for SolarWinds on our list. This application has a beautiful selection of functions for small businesses and is free to use.

Some of these features include:

• A network map
• Monitoring the bandwidth
• Asset administration

Spiceworks is a fantastic SolarWinds substitute for small companies trying to reduce monitoring expenses.

An excellent choice if you’re looking for a paid SolarWinds substitute is PRTG Network Monitor.

This tool starts at $399 per year and offers a wide range of features, including:

• Traffic studies
• Flow data gathering
• Integration of NetFlow
• SNMP tracking
• plus more!

For individuals who require more sophisticated functionality than Spiceworks provides, PRTG Network Monitor is a fantastic alternative.

Why do I need an alternative to SolarWinds?

Unfortunately, 18,000 consumers were hacked through the SolarWinds product Orion, and the attack went unnoticed for months. This significant cyberattack, which managed to disrupt various departments of the US federal government, has been linked to hackers with Russian help. One of the deadliest cyberattacks in the country to date, the data breaches stretched 8 to 9 months.

The president of Microsoft said on 60 Minutes, “I believe, from a software engineering sense, it’s probably fair to say that this is the most intricate and impactful attack the world has ever seen.”

The hack of Solarwinds was initially identified by FireEye, who immediately alerted its commercial partners, including Microsoft. Microsoft then saw that hackers were accessing private information in the Microsoft 365 cloud, which several government institutions use, and informed the US government that a national network had been compromised. The next day, FireEye updated the back door discovered in SolarWinds’ Orion product to CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency).

Since SolarWinds made the grave mistake of leaving a backdoor accessible to hackers, many companies are naturally reluctant to work with the company.

SolarWinds alternatives (SolarWinds competitors)

For instance, a network can be configured, managed, and troubleshot using SolarWinds network management software. Its goals include assuring high performance, minimizing downtime, and setting up an organization’s information technology in a rational and resilient manner. Network administrators utilize technologies like SolarWinds to assist them in carrying out various management tasks. Users can use network administration tools to discover who is utilizing their system and how well it operates.

-Datadog Network Monitoring

In addition to supporting more operating systems than SolarWinds Orion, Datadog keeps track of connections between components to provide an all-encompassing view of your network.

-Auvik

a cloud-based solution with several automated features that can monitor many networks. Auvik provides a thorough overview of networked devices and their connections, making it the perfect tool for real-time network mapping.

-Zabbix

This free, open-source monitoring tool monitors networks, servers, and applications. It works with Linux, macOS, and Unix.

-Progress WhatsUp Gold

The primary goal of WhatsUp Gold is to identify and fix network issues as rapidly as possible, frequently before end customers are even aware that a problem exists. WhatsUp Gold offers a high degree of customization with drag-and-drop dashboards that make it simple to view the status and performance of each device (both in the cloud and on-premise). The fact that it installs directly onto Windows Server is another fantastic feature.

-Entuity

For organizations, Entuity offers a service that aids in managing many parts of networks. Because of its scalable design, it is easily adaptable to support more devices as needed. The software is also created to be highly automated to assist businesses in getting the outcomes they want.

Five essential features in SolarWinds alternatives

-Scaling with the business

Businesses should be able to modify and improve their WLAN (wireless local area network) or Wi-Fi design thanks to network management software. This typically involves establishing new access points for a growing company or with more mobile devices. Since this approach allows for the entire AP to be altered rather than individually modifying each one, changing access point configurations should be simple.

-Compliance reporting

Compliance reporting is a tool used by organizations to provide feedback and identify areas that require improvement. For instance, if an organization’s objective is to improve employee morale, the compliance report will highlight the teams or departments with strong confidence and those that might use improvement. Systems for network administration make this process simpler.

The right system will generate reports on the following:

• Notifications that recommend subsequent actions
• Data about various devices’ performance and use
• Keeping a process diary can be immensely beneficial when working on long-term projects or objectives. You can ensure that nothing is overlooked and that your project continues on course by outlining each phase in advance.
• The effect of radio waves on human health is referred to as radio frequency health. Since many years ago, radiofrequency energy, a type of electromagnetic radiation, has been used in numerous industrial and medical applications. While there is some worry about the possible health implications of radiofrequency energy exposure, research shows that this sort of radiation is not dangerous to people at exposure levels that are usually encountered in daily life.
• Performance histories

-Real-time visibility and analytics

It’s an excellent addition for web designers and has made our workflow more efficient. We have been able to locate website bottlenecks and improve the performance of our websites using real-time insight into usage data. Rapid troubleshooting and fixes are also made possible via real-time monitoring.

Visibility is based on three components:

• Real-time information on end users and their devices is made available by the Device Connections feature. This includes information like IP addresses, signal strength, connected APs, and channel usage.
• APs that have been accessed can be used to track end-user devices, disclosing their specific position.
• Signal Coverage — By superimposing radio frequency (RF) signals over a map or blueprint of the structure, this feature illustrates the sections of a facility (or campus) where APs have coverage (s). This tool can view the day-to-day variations in signal coverage in real-time.

-Universal Compatibility

Network management systems should make users’ lives easier as networks become more complicated by enhancing management’s capacity to handle the complexity. Therefore, these systems must work with various network architectures and hardware. Operations will be streamlined, and frustration levels will go down.

-Bandwidth performance management

Utilize bandwidth wisely to reduce costs and boost Wi-Fi performance. A network management system should be able to manage bandwidth, with shaping policies dictated by the user, the location of the device, the time of day, and the applications being utilized.

Choosing the best network management software

It’s essential to pick a SolarWinds alternative that offers a wide range of features. You can accomplish higher-level goals with little resource investment if you choose the best software. When looking for network management software, keep the following things in mind:

-Size

One crucial element to consider when selecting a solution is the network’s size because it will affect other aspects of the project. Make sure to spend your time studying and locating the most excellent alternative available to prevent making any blunders.

There are some questions management should ask to help make a good decision:

• Do you focus on a single site or a number of them?
• Will we have to monitor virtual applications and storage?
• Do we need to guarantee backup servers and cellular WAN lines, for example, as they are frequently unavailable?
• Are any servers or network elements under surveillance?

-Connectivity

Consider whether the system is linked when examining it. Before starting your monitoring program, ensure you have all the hardware and software required. It is essential to assess the system’s connection to ensure that the infrastructure can support the program’s demands. Management should take into account network connections when making decisions.

-Automatic discovery

While other network management systems lack automated detection, others do. The network is scanned by automatic discovery to look for changes in the state of the individual components. A network discovery scan will automatically detect and include any new devices, keeping maps up-to-date at all times.

-Notifications and alerts

Management and IT will be notified when something unusual is discovered on the network. They can be ready for any future breaches in this way and prevent them from happening.

-Topology Mapping

Network managers need topology mapping because it gives a clear picture of the infrastructure and its parts. The map shows the location of the devices within the network and their identification. Assessing how the network is being used and where possible issues might occur is simple.

Simply enter your needs into our Product Selection Tool on the Network Monitoring Software page if you’re ready to locate the ideal Solarwinds substitute for your company. Then, one of our unbiased Technology Advisors will contact you with up to five quick and cost-free choices that fit your needs.

What is the SolarWinds hack?

The security compromise involving the SolarWinds Orion system is known as the “SolarWinds hack.”

This method allowed thousands of SolarWinds customers’ networks, systems, and data to be compromised by unidentified nation-state hackers who have been dubbed the SolarWinds Hackers by Microsoft and the Nobelium Group by other security researchers. The extent of the hack is unprecedented, if not wholly original.

Over 30,000 public and private businesses, including local, state, and federal agencies, utilize the network management system SolarWinds, which was compromised when backdoor spyware was added as a software update. Thousands of data sets, networks and systems were affected by the intrusion.

This impacted not just SolarWinds customers. The attackers may gain access to their clients’ and partners’ data and networks due to the hack, which exposed Orion users’ internal workings and allowed them to grow significantly.

How did the SolarWinds hack happen?

The attackers introduced malicious malware into the Orion system through a supply chain attack. A supply chain assault is a sort of hacking that focuses on an entity with access to an organization’s plans instead of going after the networks themselves.

The hacker took advantage of the SolarWinds Orion Platform, a third-party software. Hackers may gain access to and assume the identities of users and accounts of the affected organizations through this backdoor. Malware that can access system files and imitate authentic SolarWinds behavior unnoticed may even deceive antivirus software.

The obvious target for this kind of supply chain attack was SolarWinds. Multiple large corporations and government organizations use the Orion program, so all the hackers had to incorporate the malicious malware as a SolarWinds update or patch.

Here is a timeline of the SolarWinds hack

• The network of SolarWinds was open to intruders.
• Threat actors’ malware developers experiment with new code injection into Orion.
• Orion received the Sunburst malware injection.
• SolarWinds starts distributing Orion software updates with hidden code.

The malicious updates were unknowingly deployed on the PCs of more than 18,000 SolarWinds users. Once they have access to client data, the hackers might use it to spread additional malware. They could spy on other businesses and groups because of this covertly.

Who was affected?

The infection reportedly had a significant impact on numerous businesses and organizations. Since there was evidence that their systems had been breached, emails from federal organizations like Homeland Security, State, Commerce, and Treasury are claimed to have been lost. The virus also affected private companies like FireEye, Microsoft, Intel, Cisco, and Deloitte.

The cybersecurity firm FireEye was the first to find the spyware. When the business discovered the malware in their clients’ systems, they admitted to having been infected. The SolarWinds hack was dubbed “UNC2452” by FireEye, while “Sunburst” was the backdoor used to obtain access.

Microsoft has informed customers in the UK and Ireland of a recent data incident impacting its cloud infrastructure in a public advisory. According to Microsoft, the attack started on July 5 with a phishing email effort that targeted employees of the Dynamics 365 customer service team. During the assault, information such as customers’ names, addresses, phone numbers, emails, passwords (or equivalents), financial data such as credit card and bank account numbers (or their equivalent in local currencies), and emails were all stolen. International news outlets have reported that Microsoft also found evidence of the infection in its systems.

However, even if the kill switch is pressed, the attack continues. Because there is so much data to examine, many firms who utilize Orion software are still unsure if they are free of back door infection. The full effects of the breach won’t be completely understood for a very long time.

Why did it take so long to detect the SolarWinds attack?

The SolarWinds attackers had at least 14 months to investigate and cause havoc because they were unnoticed for a long time.

Attackers frequently acquire access when an attack is found. This is referred to as the dwell time. The average was 95 days, according to a report by the security company CrowdStrike. The breach wasn’t identified until just recently, even though the attackers first breached the SolarWinds network more than a year ago. This indicates that the dwell time in this instance was far longer than is typically reported.

Due to the sophistication of the Sunburst code and the hackers that used it, it took so long to identify the SolarWinds attack. Analysis reveals that these attackers could avoid detection from private organizations like SolarWinds and government entities by orchestrating the intrusion through many servers based in different countries and imitating legitimate network activity.

The first company to report on the SolarWinds attack, FireEye, carried out its investigation. In its study of the intricate series of steps the attackers took to cover their tracks, FireEye delved into considerable depth. Malware runs a series of checks to ensure no antimalware or forensic analysis tools are active before Sunburst tries connecting to its command-and-control server.

What was the purpose of the hack?

Hackers broke into government organizations, albeit we don’t know why, and stole private data that hasn’t been made public. The hacker(s) had unrestricted access to numerous areas of the company, which begs the issue of what information they could gather.

Given that the primary target of the attack was government organizations using SolarWinds IT management systems, many businesses may be impacted.

Who was responsible for the hack?

Federal authorities and cybersecurity professionals think Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service was most likely responsible for the SolarWinds hack.

The Russian government has categorically denied any involvement in the attack, saying in a formal statement that “Russia does not carry out offensive operations in cyberspace” and that “Any malicious activity in the digital space goes against the principles of Russian foreign policy, national interests, and understanding of interstate relations.”

Why is the SolarWinds hack important?

Threat actors used the Orion software as a weapon in the SolarWinds supply chain attack. This global hacking operation allowed them to access several government systems as well as thousands of private systems all over the world. Due to the program’s flexibility and ability to access whole networks, many governments, commercial networks, and systems are vulnerable to severe breaches.

It might also serve as a significant impetus for reform in the cybersecurity industry. Numerous groups and governmental bodies are now developing new strategies for responding to these assaults before they happen. Governments and institutions are discovering that installing a firewall alone will not be sufficient; instead, they must actively look for system faults and either fix them or use them as booby traps to thwart such attacks.

Since the issue was identified, SolarWinds has encouraged clients to upgrade their current Orion platform. Following the initial SolarWinds assault, malware and other potential vulnerabilities were found. These have been addressed. Additionally, customers were cautioned against changing the passwords for any accounts with access to Solar Winds’ servers or disabling access from remote SolarWinds servers.

Some experts believe that the White House needs to pay more attention to cybersecurity. To monitor and collaborate, enterprises should think about using cutting-edge software-as-a-service solutions. Although the cybersecurity sector has made considerable strides in recent years, attacks of this nature highlight how much work still has to be done before completely secure networks can be achieved.

Conclusion

Although SolarWinds is a fantastic tool, it is not the only one available. We looked at a few SolarWinds alternatives in this blog post that you might want to consider. These tools are far less expensive while still providing similar features and advantages! Therefore, we offer everything you need, whether you’re looking for a free tool or something more expensive! Have you ever used one of these substitutes? Tell us in the comments section below!