Application Performance Management (APM) is now reaching the crest of its popularity cycle, and will soon be absorbed into the mainstream of IT as the principles of APM become clear to the broader audience. Holding true to its promise, APM will provide proactive system monitoring at the risk of being dubbed a point solution, and will achieve its potential to be seen as a strategic platform.

A well-oiled APM solution comes from correlating bottom-up monitoring (infrastructure monitoring) with insights from top-down monitoring (real-time application monitoring) all within the context of the end-user-experience (EUE). But from what angle should we be looking at APM as it relates to IT strategy?

Consider Australia for a moment. Is it a country, a continent, or an island? The answer depends upon your perspective, and, in much the same way, the unique spectrum of APM can be viewed as a framework, methodology, or platform. Understanding these attributes will help raise APM up the stack into the wheelhouse of IT Leadership for greater visibility.

To complete this metaphor, think about the monitoring tools themselves as the counties, cities, or streets on which APM is built. This parallels the idea that APM has different facets to consider within its construct. For more on this, read APM Convergence: Monitoring vs. Management.

Consider the following definitions and how APM uniquely fits as a prefix for each of them:

Methodology:

[A system of methods used in a particular area of study.]

It starts with a simple APM Methodology that can apply to any monitoring initiative or strategic discussion about application performance. This consists of four elements: Top-down monitoring, Bottom-up monitoring, Reporting & Analytics, and ITSM/ITIL Management Processes.

Each element goes deep as a broad category, and each category encompasses specific monitoring tools that support the end-user-experience (EUE). To illustrate this concept consider the Principles of APM, which gives you a blueprint of the high-level elements in relation to each other.

Slide Share: A Simple APM Methodology that maps to a real-world workflow

Framework:

[A basic structure underlying a system, concept, or text.]

Gartner was one of the forerunners in defining the Application Performance Monitoring model, formalizing the APM space as we know it today. The APM Conceptual Framework outlines 5 dimensions of technology to consider when implementing an application monitoring solution.

Forester has come out with an APM implementation framework that they describe as a blueprint for holistic business technology monitoring. The research outlines seven steps to follow as you build out your business technology management strategies (people, process, and technology) - Guarantee Business Value from Technology Monitoring.

Most recently, Tech-Tonics has published a Performance Analytics Decision Support Framework (PADS), which outlines best practices for assuring user experience, reducing risk and improving operational decision making.

Platform:

[A platform is any base of technologies on which other technologies or processes are built.]

Many vendors now have a broad offering of monitoring tools that makeup an APM platform focused on monitoring critical business applications beyond just web applications. Here are some helpful resources for describing these platforms and vendor offerings:

Ovum - Decision Matrix: Selecting an APM Solution

Enterprise Management Associates (EMA) - APM in the Age of the Cloud

Gartner Research - APM Magic Quadrant

Tool:

[A device or implement, used to carry out a particular function.]

These are all of the point solutions for monitoring that are dotting the APM landscape today. If you're looking to get clarity and unbiased product reviews about the most popular monitoring tools click on IT Central Station.

Gartner has also put together a large taxonomy of the availability and performance monitoring vendors (300+), identifying their solutions of coverage across four market segments:

1. General (fault monitoring)

2. Application Performance Monitoring (APM)

3. Network

4. Network Performance Monitoring

Conclusion

The attributes that make up APM at each level are unique to that purpose and transcend any one benefit that a single tool can furnish. Consider that APM is more than just an acronym but a journey, a movement, a new way of thinking, and a new frame of reference that is stitching together business value with IT metrics supporting the customer experience.

You can contact Larry on LinkedIn.

Related Links:

For more information on the basic Principles of APM and how it can be applied to any monitoring initiative or strategic discussion about application performance refer to the webcast on BrightTALK.com: Solving the Performance Puzzle: A Simple APM Methodology

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