What are the top five features to consider when selecting an APM tool?

Ensuring your app is running as it should, and troubleshooting issues efficiently requires the right application performance monitoring (APM) tool.

Of course with a raft of different tools competing for your attention in this space, choosing the right one is tricky. To help out, here are a quintet of features that are must-haves when comparing rival tools and deciding which to pick.

Database monitoring

Without a resilient, reliable database to underpin it, an app simply won’t function at its best.

Hence you need an AMP tool that is built to scrutinize the underlying database and watch out for performance inconsistencies.

When comparing Datadog vs Dynatrace, it’s apparent that infrastructural visibility of this kind is key to what makes a good tool in this market. Avoid any alternatives that don’t let you assess the inner workings of your app’s ecosystem in this way.

User experience monitoring

App performance isn’t just about how quickly it is loading up or how well it is running on a given set of hardware; it’s also about the quality of the user experience (UX) that it offers.

Top tools can look into the way in which your app is being used, and give you insights into pain points and problems that might otherwise not have been obvious from your internal testing.

Ironing out UX issues should be a priority, and when monitoring tools empower you to make informed decisions in this regard, it is obviously advantageous.

Intuitive interface

It doesn’t matter how many bells and whistles an APM tool offers if the dashboard through which your team controls them is convoluted, poorly laid out, or has a steep learning curve.

Ideally, the interface provided by the tool should be straightforward enough to let you get to grips with it swiftly, while still providing plenty of depth so that the most used features and functions are always within reach.

Another defining factor of a good dashboard is customisation, as you may have specific views you’d like to use so that your monitoring needs are met, rather than needing to acclimate yourself to whatever arrangement the vendor thinks is most appropriate.

Integration abilities

You won’t be using your APM tool in a vacuum, so it is to be expected that it should offer support for third-party solutions.

Whether you want to integrate your existing error monitoring platform, or you need to include functionality for messaging and collaboration solutions your team relies upon day to day, checking to see what type of compatibility is available is essential.

Security monitoring

No developer can afford to overlook app security.

It’s not just about keeping users safe and shielding their data from third parties, but also about avoiding breach-related reputational damage and sustaining the viability of the business in the long-term.

Security monitoring is thus a cornerstone feature of any APM tool.

Keeping tabs on things like network activity and usage in order to pinpoint suspicious incidents and enable you to tackle them speedily through alerts will make your app more resilient.

The tool also needs to let you control the length of time over which data is stored so that privacy is protected while still letting you make informed decisions for optimisation.

Wrapping up

You may have your own priorities when weighing the features of APM tools, but these five elements will give you a solid foundation on which to base the rest of your search.

Pricing is also a consideration, but it is better to choose the solution that provides the best value, rather than simply chasing the cheapest tool.