Table of Contents
Information technology has led to countless amounts of data being transferred each day. These communications are important, so access to the contents is a top priority. When you need to monitor network usage, there are a few ways to get the job done.
Monitoring Your Network Usage in Windows
Built-in Tools
For most people, the basic tools built into Windows are enough. Brisbane managed IT services also deal with situations where the original tools have been tampered with, or are missing.
Default installs of windows will come with the Windows Connection Manager. It is a bit sparse compared to other network managers but is a good starting point for most people. With it, you can set up speed limits, notifications on data limits, and create network policies. Speed limits and notifications are straightforward processes for most users. If an option is confusing, offline and online help options can be clicked to provide more information.
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For the most part, all of the information you need about Windows Connection Manager can be answered from the Get Help button. And if activated, Cortana is extremely useful for a visual tutorial of network features.
Creating network policies will be your bread and butter when using the built-in tools, and is completely separate from firewall rules. Once you’re familiar with network policies, everything else will become trivial.
Ease of use is heavily dependent on your current windows setup. Sometimes the network tools are inaccessible due to a virus or a company’s current group policy. Both of these are considered problematic for anyone that needs access to the built-in network usage tools.
Third-Party Tools
There are countless third-party tools that completely surpass the effectiveness of the built-in tools provided by Windows. These advanced tools can be installed on the host machine with an option to access the network remotely.
Once you’re familiar with beginner tools, advanced third-party tools are a mandatory step for monitoring network usage in Windows. But again, it is important to stress how vital it is to already be familiar with the built-in monitoring tools within windows.
Third-party tools contain a suite of features that lets you monitor, control, restrict and change data. Since this can be devastating in inexperienced hands, familiarity with Windows is expected.
Network management tools remain one of the most competitive industries in IT. The best choice will always be for companies that provide the best customer support.
Firewalls
Firewalls are the unsung heroes of monitoring network traffic on windows. Both hardware and software options offer incredible flexibility when dealing with a high amount of traffic. Hardware firewalls are built into routers and contain the most robust features.
They can limit data, monitor data, and tell you all of the intricate details of the entire network. With a hardware firewall, you get access to advanced MAC address features.
A software firewall can be found in antivirus suites and serves as an upgrade to a Windows firewall. These are less robust than hardware firewalls, but still, get the job done. For basic network monitoring, this is a nice step up from the built-in tools.
Prioritize Security
It’s important to know what type of data is going in and out of your network. Whether it is for personal or professional reasons, monitoring data in Windows is a simple task. Get into the habit of checking, and unwanted network changes will never take you by surprise.
