Challenges in synthetic monitoring

Synthetic monitoring is a vital technique used to replicate user actions on a website or application in order to evaluate speed, availability, and functionality. It plays a crucial role in helping organizations maintain a seamless online presence and deliver a flawless user experience. However, despite its many benefits, synthetic monitoring comes with its own set of challenges. These arise from the inherent limitations of simulated tests and the resources required to maintain an effective synthetic monitoring setup. Recognizing these limitations is key to using synthetic monitoring effectively alongside other monitoring strategies.

In this article, we shall delve into the primary obstacles encountered in synthetic monitoring and explore potential solutions for organizations to conquer them.

1. Scripting and maintenance of test scenarios

User interfaces, features, and workflows are constantly evolving in applications, making it challenging to maintain accurate synthetic test scripts and avoid false alerts. Even small changes to the interface can cause these scripts to fail, leading to inaccurate monitoring. The continuous upkeep and management of these scripts is a demanding and resource-heavy task that requires constant attention from developers.

Solution: Businesses should consider implementing scriptless or low-code synthetic monitoring solutions that streamline test development and lessen the need for specialized expertise. By creating adaptable, reusable scripts and automating script validation, potential issues can be detected and addressed at an early stage. Furthermore, maintaining strong communication with development teams guarantees that monitoring scripts remain in sync with any updates to the application.

2. Lack of real-world insights

Synthetic monitoring is limited in its ability to capture unexpected user actions, unique browsing patterns, and real-time user situations. Each individual user has their own distinct behavior, and it is impossible to replicate every possible scenario they may encounter. As a result, there may be gaps in the monitoring data, making it challenging to pinpoint and resolve issues. This can result in inaccurate alerts, where the monitoring system reports a problem that does not affect real users, or overlooks an issue that is impacting real users.

Solution: By merging data from both synthetic and real user monitoring, we can gain a complete understanding of user experience. This powerful combination captures both anticipated and unforeseen actions. Synthetic monitoring mimics user behavior through pre-set tests, while real user monitoring gathers data from live users, offering a more precise depiction of the user journey. To stay on top of performance, it's crucial to regularly refresh and diversify synthetic tests using insights from user behavior analysis and feedback from these monitoring tools.

3. Complexity of modern web applications

With the increasing popularity of dynamic and interactive web applications, accurately mimicking user behavior and interactions has become a daunting task. These applications utilize intricate frameworks and technologies, making it arduous to replicate genuine user experiences. Contemporary applications also incorporate dynamic content, personalization, and A/B testing, all of which are tough to accurately simulate with static synthetic tests. Consequently, synthetic monitoring may not provide an accurate depiction of the true user experience.

Solution: Preparing synthetic tests capable of adapting to changing data inputs and diverse content, while leveraging sophisticated scripting and simulation methods to faithfully replicate user actions and engagements, can prove immensely beneficial. These tests possess the unique capability to monitor various levels of the application stack, encompassing the front-end, back-end, and external services, providing a holistic perspective on the application's efficiency. Additionally, supplementing UI evaluations with API tracking can effectively verify backend operations, regardless of any alterations to the user interface.

4. Geographic inaccuracy

Synthetic tests are conducted from fixed monitoring nodes, which may not accurately depict the wide range of locations where actual users are located. Although these synthetic tests can mimic user behaviors from various places, they may not provide an accurate portrayal of real-life situations, such as fluctuating network speeds or connectivity problems. As a result, this can lead to unreliable performance data and deceptive outcomes, particularly for applications with a global reach.

Solution: Selecting a monitoring solution equipped with a vast network of test nodes to replicate user experience across various branch offices can greatly assist in evaluating performance across multiple geographical areas. Additionally, incorporating intelligence from Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) and network providers can provide valuable insights into regional performance variables.

5. Resource overheads

As application expands, it becomes more challenging to guarantee that synthetic tests encompass all crucial user paths and functionalities. The process of scaling tests across various features and environments can also place added strain on production systems, requiring significant resources. Furthermore, as the number of monitored applications and services rises, the task of overseeing and upkeeping the synthetic monitoring infrastructure can become overwhelming.

Solution: Finding the right balance between testing frequency and resource consumption is key in minimizing resource strain. Direct your synthetic monitoring efforts towards the most vital and impactful user pathways to maximize resource efficiency. Additionally, embracing cloud-based solutions can provide scalability and adaptability, empowering businesses to oversee numerous applications and services without constraints. Plus, the added benefit of pay-as-you-go pricing makes it a budget-friendly choice for companies of any size.

Overcome your synthetic monitoring challenges with ease!

Discover the capabilities of Applications Manager, an advanced monitoring software designed to tackle your synthetic monitoring needs with ease. Gain a comprehensive understanding of your web application's performance, whether through simulated or real-time monitoring, thanks to its robust features.

In addition to monitoring, this software offers in-depth insights into application performance, infrastructure health, and cloud performance, all conveniently accessible from a single platform. Effectively identify and resolve issues, automate tasks, and ensure uninterrupted user experiences. Request a personalized demo or take advantage of our 30-day free trial to fully experience the power of our synthetic monitoring solution.