PRTG vs RMM: Why Network Monitoring Complements Your RMM Tool

RMM software like ConnectWise and N-able are great for keeping all your endpoints up to date with patch management and remote access capabilities. But when it comes to diagnosing why something broke or stopped working, or being proactive about preventing network performance issues from degrading user experience, they typically fall short. That's why PRTG adds value to IT environments.

Fundamentally, RMM monitoring is focused on endpoints and automation for management and patching of Windows, Linux, and macOS devices. PRTG focuses on in-depth monitoring and checks of your overall network infrastructure with easy-to-read dashboards. With it's 250+ sensor types to monitor everything from bandwidth monitoring to application performance, its goal is to provide deep network visibility and actionable real-time alerts for IT assets and firewalls that all-in-one RMM tools often lack.

Let's take a deeper look at the main differences between the two solutions, and some of the key ways monitoring with PRTG can be used as an RMM supplement.

PRTG vs RMM: Deep Network Infrastructure Monitoring Beyond Endpoint Management

The most important thing to know about the difference between PRTG and RMM tools is that RMM solutions offer health checks for endpoint devices, patch management, asset management, remote access, and basic connectivity for end-user devices - basically endpoint and asset management. They also tend to focus on automating management for Windows and Linux servers, mobile device management, and work ticket help desk workflows. But RMM solutions have basic or limited network monitoring capabilities. Most have very limited visibility into network infrastructure components and performance.

Paessler PRTG Network Monitor, on the other hand, gives you end-to-end visibility into performance across your on-premises and cloud-based network infrastructure, servers, applications, and IT services. PRTG helps you see when something is slowing down or suffering from dependencies and bottlenecks, often before users realize there's a problem. IT admins want to monitor the network layer in ways RMM tools can't provide: Quality of Service monitoring (QoS) measurement, Voice over IP (VoIP) parameter monitoring, network traffic classification, real-time bandwidth utilization analysis. RMM solutions tell you "what" is happening with a failing endpoint or open vulnerability, whereas PRTG tells you "how well" the entire network is working with in-depth metrics and user experience monitoring.

Used together, RMMs and PRTG give you a complete view of what is going on: management plus deep diagnostics.

4 Key Advantages: Why IT Teams Use PRTG Alongside RMM Tools

1. Root cause, not surface symptoms

RMM solutions alert IT teams and sysadmins when an endpoint is down or has a problem. However, PRTG shows the network team what's going on with in-depth performance data, shining a light on the root causes of device outages and status alerts. RMMs give you the symptom: PRTG points you to the root cause by connecting switches, bandwidth, and applications to show you the whole picture, so you can fix the real problem fast.

2. Proof of performance

Stakeholders, managers, and executives want to see results, and IT teams that run environments need to show proof of performance. Are your IT services and managed environments working with 99% uptime, or do users think they are slower than they should be? With PRTG, you can show stakeholders, managers, and executives exact uptime metrics, SLA compliance data, and system capacity reports using user-friendly dashboards and customizable notifications. Whether it's uptime, SLA compliance, or system capacity, you can use PRTG to prove exactly how well your entire environment runs.

3. Fewer tools, smarter workflows

PRTG enables custom integrations with third-party platforms and RMM tools through its API and XML/JSON, supporting custom sensors, automated notifications, and unified dashboards for Managed Service Providers and IT admins. This means MSPs and IT teams get deeper insights without replacing their existing RMM platform.

4. Scalable infrastructure monitoring

PRTG Network Monitor supports thousands of highly scalable sensors per installation. You can use them for distributed remote monitoring across multiple company locations and multiple IT environments. You get the scalability, power, and flexibility to support the growing needs of complex IT infrastructure without overly complex pricing models or unmanageable database sizes.

PRTG vs RMM: Comparison Table

Why It Matters

These days, in small and mid-sized businesses, IT departments, sysadmin teams and IT professionals need to juggle more systems with fewer people. They're constantly forced to make tradeoffs in Windows, Linux, and macOS environments where application stability, availability, and security are all critical to doing business.

But here's the key - visibility is the difference between reacting to problems and having time to prevent them.

Combining PRTG Network Monitor with your RMM solution gives you three things every IT professional could use more of in today's complex IT operations world: time, clarity, and control. It's what makes PRTG and RMM tools highly complementary rather than competitive solutions.

RMMs keeps your network alive. PRTG keeps it healthy. And together, they help your business run with confidence.

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