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Benefits of combining the trifecta of APM RUM and synthetic monitoring in IT operations


Optimizing IT performance with observability: A holistic approach

For all digital organizations, application performance is the pulse to constantly monitor to ensure success. A mere moment of downtime can translate into significant revenue losses, eroded customer trust, and reputational damage. To navigate this challenging terrain and provide exceptional user experiences, businesses must adopt a holistic approach to application monitoring. This strategy seamlessly integrates application performance monitoring (APM), real user monitoring (RUM), and synthetic monitoring into a cohesive IT observability framework, driving efficiency and effectiveness in monitoring practices.

Understanding the trifecta of APM, RUM, and synthetic monitoring

APM is foundational in assessing an application's internal health. It employs a variety of tools and techniques to monitor crucial metrics such as response times, error rates, and resource utilization. This comprehensive analysis enables teams to identify bottlenecks, slow database queries, and other potential performance-related issues that could diminish the user experience. According to Grand View Research, the global APM market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 13.4% from 2024–2030, driven by organizations have realized the critical need to monitor and optimize the performance and reliability of digital applications. 


RUM takes the analysis a step further by capturing real-time performance metrics directly from the end-user perspective. This includes monitoring page load times, browser errors, and network latency. RUM is particularly powerful for recognizing issues that directly impact user satisfaction and helping identify problems such as sluggish page loads and non-functional elements. Even more, IBM says that RUM enables the last-mile visibility needed to make your products resilient by spotting and eliminating bottlenecks and dependencies.


Synthetic monitoring complements these approaches by simulating user interactions with applications to detect performance degradation and outages proactively. This technique allows teams to monitor essential user journeys, API endpoints, and external dependencies, ensuring consistently optimal performance even before end users notice issues. As organizations increasingly adopt cloud services and microservices architectures, predictive synthetic monitoring is crucial in maintaining competitive service levels.

The power of IT observability

Combining APM, RUM, and synthetic monitoring leads to a more comprehensive view of the entire IT infrastructure through IT observability. This integrated approach empowers teams to:
  • Proactively identify issues: Synthetic monitoring alerts teams about performance degradation before it affects real users, minimizing the impact of unforeseen issues.
  • Pinpoint root causes: APM facilitates detailed investigations into application code and system performance, enabling teams to uncover the origin of specific performance issues and mitigate risks effectively.
  • Prioritize fixes: RUM highlights which performance issues are most detrimental to the user experience, facilitating targeted remediation efforts that deliver the greatest impact.
  • Optimize performance: By analyzing the combined data from APM, RUM, and synthetic monitoring, teams can uncover opportunities for enhancements, driving application performance and user satisfaction to new heights.

Industry insights

As digital transformation accelerates, organizations across various sectors are investing heavily in observability solutions. According to The Business Research Company, the observability tools and platforms market grew rapidly from $2.54 billion in 2023 to $2.85 billion in 2024 at a CAGR of 12.3%, and it's expected to reach $4.43 billion by 2028, reflecting the need for comprehensive observability in an environment of rising IT complexities, cloud sprawl, and customer demand trends. 

Leveraging ManageEngine Site24x7 for holistic monitoring

ManageEngine Site24x7 offers a complete solution that encompasses APM, RUM, and synthetic monitoring, designed to meet the demands of modern IT environments. Key features include:
  • Real-time monitoring: Continuously track application performance and the user experience, allowing incident response teams to act swiftly and stay ahead of issues.
  • Advanced analytics: Utilize sophisticated analytics to detect trends and anomalies that may threaten application performance.
  • Automated alerts: Set up instant alerts for critical issues to ensure response teams are promptly informed of potential problems.
  • Custom dashboards: Create personalized dashboards to visualize and track important metrics that align with organizational goals.
  • Root cause analysis: Conduct thorough investigations into performance issues to reveal their underlying causes, reducing overall troubleshooting time.

Best practices

To maximize the effectiveness of monitoring, consider the following best practices:
  • Establish clear objectives: Define specific goals for APM that align with business objectives. Knowing what success looks like enables teams to focus their efforts more effectively.
  • Integrate multiple monitoring tools: Utilize a combination of APM, RUM, and synthetic monitoring to gain a holistic view of application performance. Relying on multiple methodologies ensures that various aspects of the user experience are covered, allowing for a more thorough analysis.
  • Regularly review metrics: Schedule consistent reviews of performance metrics and insights from monitoring tools. This proactive approach helps teams identify trends, detect anomalies, and make necessary adjustments based on real-time data.
  • Collaborate across teams: Foster collaboration between development, operations, and business teams. Sharing insights across departments can lead to a more nuanced understanding of performance issues and drive improvements across the organization.
  • Implement continuous improvement: Cultivate a culture of continuous improvement where feedback from monitoring insights leads to iterative updates and enhancements in applications. Regularly assess and implement changes based on performance data.
  • Customize alerts and reporting: Tailor alerts and reports to ensure that the right teams receive the most relevant information. Customization allows for better response times to critical issues and ensures that teams are focused on the areas that matter most.
  • Engage in regular training: Ensure that team members are trained on the latest monitoring tools and practices. Keeping abreast of emerging technologies and methodologies can enhance the overall effectiveness of performance monitoring.
  • Leverage automation: Use automation where possible to streamline monitoring processes. Automated alerts, performance checks, and reporting can free up valuable time for teams to focus on resolving critical issues and enhancing performance.
Staying ahead of website performance issues is essential for maintaining a competitive edge and ensuring long-term success. By adopting these best practices, organizations can significantly enhance their IT observability efforts, leading to improved application performance, reduced downtime, and a better overall user experience.