Internet usage monitoring with PRTG
Measure Internet traffic & keep your network running at peak performance
- Check network speed and bandwidth usage for optimal efficiency
- Monitor routers, switches, and other hardware to prevent malfunctions
- Use SNMP, WMI, packet sniffing, and flow protocols to monitor data usage
Our users give top ratings for monitoring with Paessler PRTG
PRTG Internet usage monitoring: What you’ll find on this page
PRTG makes Internet speed monitoring easy
Custom alerts and data visualization make it easy to monitor, identify, and prevent high data usage, low bandwidth, and overall network traffic issues.
3 ways PRTG Internet monitoring helps you manage Internet usage and network activity
Paessler PRTG monitors your bandwidth and hardware round the clock to measure your Internet usage and keep a constant eye on the capacity of your network. In the event of a problem or error, our Internet usage monitoring software will immediately alert you based on custom thresholds so you can take action to prevent downtime.
Keep your Internet up and running
Faulty switches and routers can wreak havoc on your network. Often this hardware is damaged or missing an important update.
PRTG sensors let you monitor the hardware of countless different manufacturers, and always keep an eye on your CPU, memory capacity, hard disks, and more.
Monitor network bandwidth usage
As your company network grows, so does its need for applications. Over time, these applications gradually eat away at your bandwidth.
PRTG’s bandwidth monitoring provide you with an overview of your bandwidth consumption, while our flow and packet sniffer sensors show you which devices and applications are putting the greatest strain on your network.
Eliminate network bottlenecks
Every network has bandwidth hogs. Most of the time, these bottlenecks appear in the local network and are only temporary.
PRTG keeps your network in tip-top shape with 24/7 monitoring of devices, bandwidth, traffic, and more. This means you'll immediately see if bottlenecks arise while performing backups or running certain applications
What Internet usage monitoring looks like in PRTG
Diagnose network issues by continuously monitoring network bandwidth usage and analyzing Internet traffic, website speed, and your Internet connections. Show bandwidth utilization and other performance stats in real time and visualize data in graphic maps & dashboards to identify problems more easily. Gain the visibility you need to troubleshoot your Internet usage and traffic.
Device tree view of the complete monitoring setup
Preconfigured Packet Sniffer sensor in PRTG
Custom PRTG dashboard for keeping an eye on the entire IT infrastructure
Start monitoring Internet usage with PRTG and see how it can make your network more reliable and your job easier.
“All-around winning “The real beauty of PRTG is the endless possibilities it offers” “PRTG Network MonitorIT experts agree: Paessler PRTG is a great solution for IT infrastructure monitoring
network monitor”
is very hard to beat”
Why choose PRTG as your Internet usage monitoring tool
All is quiet on the help desk
What’s that you hear? The birds whistling? Hardly surprising since the help desk phone has stopped ringing. PRTG all but eliminates downtime and malfunctions.
And thanks to customizable alerting, you’ll be notified of glitches before others even have a chance to realize that something has gone wrong.
Enjoy some
free time
PRTG is like an extra employee that works 24/7 to monitor your network. If you’re not alerted by PRTG, you can rest assured that everything is OK.
This means you can use your time for other things, and conduct your work with peace and serenity.
Be a hero for your company
More than 500,000 sysadmins worldwide put their trust in us. In fact, our surveys show that 79% of PRTG users save an “incredible” or “significant” amount of money by using PRTG.
Plus, the remaining 21% of administrators express satisfaction with the time they save and an overall increase in reliability.
Go any route with routers
PRTG is compatible with almost all major router manufacturers including Cisco, IBM, Dell and more. With our preconfigured sensors, setting up router monitoring is as easy as 1, 2, 3.
Check your hardware constantly for traffic throughput to eliminate bottlenecks as quickly as possible.
Switch to premium switch monitoring
Identifying a faulty switch can be like looking for a needle in a haystack. PRTG helps you immediately see which switch is to blame.
When a switch malfunctions, you might start out by noticing a few minor glitches. But eventually the entire network will crash. PRTG notifies you at the first sign of an error so you can intervene at once.
Easily find the source of the problem with our PRTG Internet usage monitoring solution
Real-time alerts and custom notifications make it easy to solve issues with Internet traffic and bandwidth bottlenecks.
PRTG is compatible with all major vendors, products, and systems
Your Internet usage meter at a glance – even on the go
Set up PRTG in minutes and use it on almost any mobile device.
Create innovative solutions with Paessler’s partners
Partnering with innovative vendors, Paessler unleashes synergies to create
new and additional benefits for joined customers.
ScriptRunner
With ScriptRunner, Paessler integrates a powerful event automation platform into PRTG Network Monitor.
“Excellent tool for detailed monitoring. Alarms and notifications work greatly. Equipment addition is straight forward and server initial setup is very easy. ...feel safe to purchase it if you intend to monitor a large networking landscape.”
Infrastructure and Operations Engineer in the Communications Industry, firm size 10B - 30B USD
PRTG makes Internet speed monitoring easy
Custom alerts and data visualization make it easy to monitor, identify, and prevent high data usage, low bandwidth, and overall network traffic issues.
Monitor Internet usage: FAQ
Why can Internet usage be too high in organizations?
High Internet usage can be due to several factors, which can be broadly categorized into user behavior, technical issues, and external factors. Here's a detailed breakdown:
User behavior
- Streaming and downloads: Streaming high-definition videos, music, or other media consumes a large amount of data. Similarly, downloading large files or frequent software updates can lead to high usage.
- Cloud usage: Using cloud storage and services for backing up data or accessing files remotely can result in substantial data usage.
- Multiple devices: Having multiple devices connected to the Internet simultaneously can increase overall usage.
Technical issues
- Automatic updates: Operating systems, applications, and devices often download updates automatically, consuming bandwidth without the user’s active involvement.
- Background processes: Applications running in the background can use the Internet for various purposes, such as syncing data, checking for updates, or sending usage statistics.
- Network misconfigurations: Poorly configured networks or devices can lead to inefficient data usage. For example, some devices may repeatedly attempt to connect to the Internet if they experience connectivity issues.
External factors
- ISP data caps: Some Internet Service Providers (ISPs) impose data caps, which can lead to high usage notifications or throttling once the cap is exceeded.
- Security issues: Malware or unauthorized access to a network can lead to high Internet usage. For instance, a compromised device may be used to send spam or participate in a botnet, consuming large amounts of data.
- High traffic times: During peak hours, when many users are online simultaneously, overall data consumption can be higher, affecting the perceived Internet usage.
How can I monitor my Internet usage?
To manage and monitor Internet usage, you can:
- Check the data usage reports provided by your ISP
- Use network monitoring tools or software like Paessler PRTG to track Internet consumption by different devices and applications
- Set limits or controls on devices to manage data usage effectively
- Regularly update and secure devices to prevent unauthorized access and reduce background data consumption
Why should I monitor Internet usage?
Monitoring Internet usage is important for several key reasons. By tracking Internet usage, you can ensure efficient bandwidth allocation and prevent network congestion and improving overall performance. Monitoring also helps identify and mitigate security threats such as malware, unauthorized access, and data breaches. What’s more: Internet usage data provides insights that are crucial for future network capacity planning and upgrades.
How do I use PRTG as an Internet consumption monitor?
Paessler PRTG is an all-in-one network monitoring tool that also tracks and analyzes Internet traffic. Our tool uses SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol), NetFlow, sFlow, jFlow, and packet sniffing to monitor the bandwidth usage of devices and connections. By setting up sensors for network interfaces, PRTG can also measure traffic going in and out.
- SNMP: SNMP sensors poll devices for traffic counters, providing data on bandwidth usage.
- Flow technologies: NetFlow, sFlow, jFlow, and IPFIX sensors analyze the flow of data packets, offering detailed insights into which applications and services are consuming bandwidth.
- Packet sniffing: PRTG captures network packets and analyzes their content to determine what type of traffic is being transmitted.
How can I track Internet data usage with PRTG?
Paessler PRTG stores historical data on Internet usage and more, which you can use for trend analysis, identifying peak traffic times, and optimizing resource allocation as well as your entire network.
What is a sensor in PRTG?
In PRTG, “sensors” are the basic monitoring elements. One sensor usually monitors one measured value in your network, for example the traffic of a switch port, the CPU load of a server, or the free space on a disk drive.
On average, you need about 5-10 sensors per device or one sensor per switch port.
PRTG: The multi-tool for sysadmins
Adapt PRTG individually and dynamically to your needs and rely on a strong API:- HTTP API: Access monitoring data and manipulate monitoring objects via HTTP requests
- Custom sensors: Create your own PRTG sensors for customized monitoring
- Custom notifications: Create your own notifications and send action triggers to external systems
- REST Custom sensor: Monitor almost everything that provides data in XML or JSON format
Paessler conducted trials in over 600 IT departments worldwide to tune its network monitoring software closer to the needs of sysadmins. We asked: would you recommend PRTG?
Over 95% of our customers say yes!
The result of the survey: over 95% of the participants would recommend PRTG – or already have.
Paessler PRTG is used by companies of all sizes. Sysadmins love PRTG because it makes their job a whole lot easier. Bandwidth, servers, virtual environments, websites, VoIP services – PRTG keeps an eye on your entire network. Everyone has different monitoring needs. That’s why we let you try PRTG for free.Still not convinced?
More than 500,000
sysadmins love PRTG
Monitor your entire IT infrastructure
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Start monitoring Internet usage with PRTG and see how it can make your network more reliable and your job easier.
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PRTG |
Network Monitoring Software - Version 24.2.96.1375 (June 26th, 2024) |
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Hosting |
Download for Windows and cloud-based version PRTG Hosted Monitor available |
Languages |
English, German, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Dutch, Russian, Japanese, and Simplified Chinese |
Pricing |
Up to 100 sensors for free (Price List) |
Unified Monitoring |
Network devices, bandwidth, servers, applications, virtual environments, remote systems, IoT, and more |
Supported Vendors & Applications |
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Combining the broad monitoring feature set of PRTG with IP Fabric’s automated network assurance creates a new level of network visibility and reliability.