When deciding between Auvik and SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor for our SME, there is much to consider. Auvik is a SaaS platform for automatic monitoring and discovery that centralizes network data with minimal on-premises infrastructure. Meanwhile, SolarWinds combines on-premises monitoring tools with modules for managing databases, servers, and network services.
Let’s talk about features, costs, and what each tool offers to have all the information at hand when making a decision. Both are excellent platforms, no doubt, but one question remains: which is best for us?
Auvik: A network monitoring platform for IT professionals
Thanks to its ability for automated discovery of every device and instant network mapping, Auvik offers us immediate visibility into the status of our links and nodes. Among its key features and functionalities are monitoring of internal and external applications on the network, covering a wide range of essential functions for managing complex infrastructures from a single panel.
The interface is especially well designed, resulting in a very smooth learning curve and makes Auvik a very interesting option for teams where different members have different technical skills. The interface allows customization of dashboards according to the users’ names and profiles, facilitating adaptation to different roles and needs.
Also contributing to this rating are its network management and RMM modules, as Auvik includes functionalities to monitor bandwidth, IoT devices, and VPN network usage, meaning we have truly granular and insightful visibility at all times. It also enables management of different types of alerts and the definition of escalation steps for incidents, improving response to problems.
Regarding its interface, the Auvik dashboard features customizable widgets that can be configured to display key metrics and historical trends as needed, while Auvik’s API allows integrations with ticketing systems and orchestration platforms already in use.
The API-first configuration management enables us to automate patches and firmware updates on network devices, greatly reducing intervention times and manual errors. Through scripting and using the Auvik API, we can schedule maintenance tasks and synchronize configuration repositories, something DevOps teams responsible for infrastructure processes will value highly.
It is important to highlight that Auvik allows automation of report sending via email to clients, and stands out for its compatibility with other cloud applications and services.
Auvik offers a complete set of features in a single package, facilitating centralized management from a data center or in the cloud, and there are different versions of the application according to each client’s needs.
Pros and cons of Auvik
| Advantages of Auvik | Disadvantages of Auvik |
|---|---|
| Its implementation in minutes, with minimal configuration and immediate visibility, offers us value from the first click. | The reporting functionality, focused on simplicity rather than extreme detail, may limit more advanced analytics. |
| Its real-time topology maps with automatic updates every few seconds guarantee an always up-to-date inventory. | The accuracy in complex maps needs to be refined with regular manual adjustments to ensure topological consistency. |
| The automated configuration backups with history and quick recovery provide peace of mind when testing new settings or options. | The pricing model per device can scale rapidly in very large networks. |
| The integration of the Auvik API with our customized workflows facilitates the automation of many processes and ensures the best scalability. |
Why look for alternatives to Auvik?
Users with hyper-personalized reporting needs find that Auvik prioritizes simplicity and clarity of information over analytical depth, so they may want to look for alternatives that offer more specific historical-temporal metrics.
It should be considered that different sectors, such as the public or private sector, may have specific requirements that influence the choice of monitoring tool. Additionally, the internal structure and resources of the organization also affect the decision, as a more complex organization may need more advanced solutions.
That is why, due to the simplicity of Auvik’s reports, it is advisable to opt for an alternative if possible with BI panels and fully customizable dashboards. Choosing the right tool is fundamental for an organization’s success in efficiently managing its IT infrastructure.
SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor: Detect, diagnose, and respond to network issues in real time
SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor focuses on diagnostics through NetPath and PerfStack to provide a truly detailed analysis of real-time traffic. It allows us to see metrics on latency, bandwidth, and errors across all segments of our infrastructure.
The interface is based on customizable modules and adaptable dashboards for each user role, giving us the ability to dive into historical data and real-time readings without being overwhelmed. Integration with Orion add-ons facilitates expansion into other IT areas, such as database management or cloud services.
The Orion platform offers REST APIs to automate monitoring and management tasks, greatly simplifying certain workflows and enabling synchronization with ITSM tools. However, it is worth recalling the alert raised by the SolarWinds attack in 2020. This security incident, attributed to Russian intelligence (APT29 group), affected US and UK government agencies, highlighting the importance of risk management and security administration in infrastructure protection.
Attackers gained access through elevated privileges and inserted a backdoor into SolarWinds Orion’s code, using sophisticated malware to evade detection. Analyzing the technical details of the incident allowed identification of attack vectors and improvements in defenses.
Following the incident, actions taken by the US and UK governments included sanctions and possible embargoes on related products and services, increasing threat vigilance and response. Today, with lessons learned and enhanced security, SolarWinds Orion is one of the most secure platforms on the market.
Pros and Cons of Solarwinds NPM
| Advantages of Solarwinds NPM | Disadvantages of Solarwinds NPM |
|---|---|
| Diagnostics with NetPath and PerfStackto correlate metrics and events offer us extremely granular visibility. | The hardware and SQL requirements are high for optimal performance and usually demand dedicated hardware. |
| The intelligent dependent alerts reduce noise and allow us to focus on critical incidents, which is key for workload and response times. | The licenses plus annual maintenance can be too expensive for SMBs with tight budgets. |
| The customizable dashboards, with historical data and advanced analytics, in PerfStack support well-informed strategic decision-making. | The initial implementation curve requires training and configuration time before being fully operational. |
| Excellent scalability designed for hundreds of thousands of elements in large infrastructures. | The upgrade process can be complex and require thorough planning and testing to avoid interruptions. |
Why look for alternatives to SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor?
The enormous power of SolarWinds is also a weak point in some cases. For moderately sized networks, solutions with lower resource requirements and a more straightforward configuration allow a more agile deployment without compromising traffic visibility.
Similarly, alternatives that offer packet and traffic analysis modules in a SaaS model are really interesting for teams that prefer lighter—or directly no—maintenance and a recurring payment without license commitments.
Direct Comparison: Auvik vs SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor
Let’s go ahead and put Auvik vs SolarWinds head-to-head. Let’s look at the criteria to evaluate features, usability, and costs in an agile and visual way.
| Criteria | Auvik | SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Automatic discovery and mapping, configuration backups, and real-time metrics. | Advanced diagnostics with NetPath, PerfStack, and SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor (NPM) based on NetFlow analysis. |
| Ease of Use | Intuitive interface, SaaS software with minimal configurations and deployment in minutes. | Customizable Orion dashboard but requires initial configuration and familiarization. |
| Pricing | Device-based model from €15/device/month with free trial. | Perpetual licenses and annual maintenance (up to €60,000/year in large deployments). |
| User Opinion | Scores of 8.1/10 on SoftwareReviews and 4.5/5 on G2. | Ratings of 8.2/10 on SoftwareReviews and 8.6/10 on PeerSpot. |
| Learning Curve | Low to medium, ideal for MSPs and small IT without specialization. | Medium to high, recommended for network engineers and dedicated teams. |
| Tool Focus | Multisite SaaS with emphasis on rapid visibility and distributed management. | On-premises approach for complex networks with integrated modules in SolarWinds Orion. |
Differences and Similarities
With the key points in hand as well as the pros and cons, the differences and similarities between both platforms become clear. We can see matches in the essence of monitoring and also divergences in the operational approach. Both solutions offer us a complete network monitoring with smart alerts to keep us informed in real time.
On the other hand, while Auvik provides immediate visibility of distributed topologies from a truly simple SaaS environment, without infrastructure or maintenance requirements, SolarWinds stands out with more advanced diagnostics and historical analytics for large-scale environments that do require dedicated infrastructure.
| Similarities between Auvik and Solarwinds | Differences between Auvik and Solarwinds |
|---|---|
| Real-time network monitoring | Auvik is a cloud-based solution while SolarWinds NPM is an on-premise solution |
| Automatic network mapping | Auvik is very easy to install and use, whereas Solarwinds NPM has a complex implementation and a moderate learning curve. |
| Support for SNMP and common protocols |
Which is the Best for Your Company?
The final decision will depend on our needs and how each tool aligns with our team, budget, and growth goals to make the most of the chosen NPM. In general, the recommendations are as follows:
- For teams with limited resources, Auvik offers a much faster deployment and simplified, efficient visual control.
- If we manage highly complex networks and have specialized engineers, SolarWinds NPM provides the deepest diagnostics and best analytics.
- For tight budgets, Auvik’s SaaS model with clear per-device pricing greatly facilitates cost planning.
- When expected growth requires integration with other ITOM modules, SolarWinds Orion allows us to expand functionalities very easily.
Which option to choose?
Verdict: Solarwinds NPM or Auvik?
The choice between Auvik and SolarWinds NPM will always revolve around ease of use and analytical depth. With Auvik, we enjoy an almost instant deployment, real-time visibility, and automatic updates, allowing us to devote our time to strategic tasks rather than configurations. Its SaaS model and centralized dashboard greatly reduce maintenance burden and also operational costs.
On the other hand, SolarWinds NPM offers us the most advanced diagnostic tools with NetPath and PerfStack, designed for environments where route analysis and event correlation require a complete level of detail. Its integration with the Orion ecosystem allows us to extend monitoring to servers, databases, and cloud services, providing us a 360-degree view of the entire infrastructure under our supervision.
Whichever we choose, we will be closer to optimizing our network operations, improving incident detection, and ensuring continuous availability of our services, which today is simply key for any company.