A comprehensive explanation of the functions of website monitoring tools and a comparative introduction of recommended tools [URL monitoring]

Last updated: August 23, 2022

 

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Hello! My name is Koide from the System Development Department.
Today I would like to write about "website monitoring tools  "

It is extremely important to check whether any unintended problems with your website otherwise damaged by an external attack

For example, when a user visits a website, the site is slow to display or cannot be displayed

This may directly lead to a decline in usability and service image

 

A website monitoring tool allows you to centrally manage problems that occur during website operation .

However,

• "I don't know what kind of monitoring is necessary..."
• "I don't know what kind of website monitoring service I should introduce..."

Isn't there some people who are worried about this?

Therefore, in this article, server operation and maintenance for over 350 companies , and based on my knowledge as a member of a company with a high degree of infrastructure expertise,

• Items that can be monitored with website monitoring tools
• Recommended website monitoring tools

Introducing. Please watch till the end!

1. 4 monitoring items you must keep in mind when monitoring your website

You may be wondering to what extent you should monitor your website, but basically, if you monitor the following four items, you can ensure that your website is operating at a high quality. I can continue.

1. Communication check : Response speed time from when a user makes a request to receiving a response. Also called life and death monitoring.
2. Status code : A status code is a code that determines whether an HTTP request has been completed successfully. It is classified into 5 categories in total.
3. Checking the domain expiration date : Check the expiration date from the domain information registered in whois.
4. Checking the SSL expiration date : Check the expiration date of the SSL certificate.

I will explain each item below.

✔1-1. Check the communication status of the site “Communication check”

Communication check (aliveness monitoring) refers to the time from when a client sends a request (to view a website) until a response is returned (the website is displayed)

The longer you wait, the more likely your users will be frustrated and lose trust.

After all, everything is done quickly , but it is justice.

You can check the status of your site! status code

The status codes returned during HTTP communication can be broadly divided into 100s to 500s.

Below are the meanings and contents of the status codes by category.

 

It is also a status code that you often see on websites. It is sufficient to remember the following regarding status codes.

 

 

Do you tend to forget? Domain expiration date

Domains expire once a year, which is an infrequent task, so it's easy to forget to renew them.

The following article explains the problems that can occur when you forget your domain or SSL certificate.

[Easy] How to manage domain and SSL certificate expiry dates for free [Website operation]

With website monitoring tools, you can obtain the domain expiration date from the whois information and check it at any time.

Whois information is information that allows you to check information about IP addresses, domain name registrants, etc.

The image above is the whois information from our website.

You can see that the domain expiration date is displayed from the red line.

Essential for safe use of the site! SSL expiration date

Just like with domains, it's easy to forget to manage your SSL expiration date and end up panicking when it's about to expire.

If the SSL certificate expires, https communication will not be possible and the website will not display properly, so it is necessary to renew it as soon as possible.

Note that you can check the SSL expiration date by following the steps below even if you do not have a website monitoring tool.
(It's a pain to check each time, but...)

■Steps to check the SSL expiration date

• Step 1: Access the https URL in your browser and click the lock mark in the address bar.

• Step ② Click on the certificate

• Step ③ Click on the tab details

• Step 4: Check the fields for the start and end of the expiration date.

 

3. Introducing 4 recommended website monitoring tools

In the previous chapter, we explained the basic monitoring items that can be monitored with website monitoring tools and the details of each item.

Below we will introduce some website monitoring tools that are easy to install and have free plans.
Many website monitoring tools are available with free plans. The maximum number of URLs that can be monitored in the free plan and the functions that can be used differ
depending on the tool, so please check which tool is best for your purpose. It might be a good idea to try it out first and continue using the one that feels good.

✔3-1. A versatile tool with excellent expandability! Site24x7

Site24x7 not only provides website monitoring (external monitoring) such as Ping server monitoring, scenario monitoring, and real user monitoring, but also a wide range of services including server monitoring, APM (application performance management), network monitoring, and cloud cost management. This is the perfect service if you want to perform more serious monitoring. However, the free plan allows you to monitor up to 5 URLs, so if you want to use it seriously, you may need to use a paid plan.

Maximum number of URLs to monitor for free plan: 5 URLs
*Paid plan can be used for free for 30 days

URL: https://www.site24x7.jp/

✔3-2. Domestic tools that can be used with confidence! Monitoring Plus

Monitoring Plus is a website monitoring tool released by Startup Plus Co., Ltd. located in Tokyo, so if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us using the inquiry form.

With the business plan (2,980 yen per month), you can register up to 30 URLs, and in addition to communication checks, you can also check malware links. However, the maximum number of URLs that can be monitored with the free plan is 3 URLs, and the only items that can be monitored are communication checks. If you also want to implement security measures, the business plan is the best option. On the other hand, if you want to monitor multiple pages for free, it may be a little difficult.

Additionally, since Monitoring Plus allows you to use Wordpress plugins even with the free plan, it can be said to be a highly convenient tool if you are running a WordPress site.

Maximum number of URLs monitored for free plan: 3 URLs
*Paid plan can be used for free in the first month of use

URL: https://www.monitoring-plus.jp/

✔3-3. UPTRENDS

UPTRENDS allows for bandwidth adjustment, snapshots in the event of a failure, and transaction checks (e-commerce, authentication function, reservation system checks, etc.)

We also offer APM (Application Performance Management), real user monitoring, server monitoring, etc.

However, since this is an overseas service that does not support Japanese, you may find it difficult to use it if you are not familiar with English.

*Free trial available

URL: https://www.uptrends.com/

✔3-4.Uptime Robot

At Uptime Robot

・Port connection check

・String monitoring (keyword monitoring)

・Cron job monitoring (check if requests arrive on time)

In addition, we also provide external & internal server monitoring, real user monitoring, and APM (Application Performance Management).

*Free plan available

URL: https://uptimerobot.com/

4. Appmill, a site specializing in external monitoring

The video below briefly introduces Apmil in one and a half minutes

Please take a look at this as well.

Go to Apmil official website

The biggest feature of the website monitoring tool Appmill is that it allows you to monitor as many as 100 URLs with its free plan.

Additionally, Apmil is a website monitoring tool developed by Beyond, an IT infrastructure company that operates servers for over 350 companies in Japan.

So, what features do you really need for website monitoring? It has been developed from an expert's perspective, and if you have any questions about using it, you can contact us at any time using the inquiry form

With Appmill, you can monitor communication checks , status codes , domain expiration dates , SSL expiration dates

✔4-1. Check for content errors, check security

1. Broken link monitoring : Check to see if any links within your site are broken.
2. HTML difference comparison : Checks whether web tampering has occurred by comparing the differences between past HTML and current HTML.
3. Snapshot comparison : Check whether web tampering has occurred by comparing past snapshots and current snapshots.

① Broken link monitoring

We ensure that users can browse comfortably by checking that there are no broken links within the site.

② HTML difference comparison

You can compare the differences between past HTML and the latest HTML to check whether the web has been tampered with by a third party.

③ Difference comparison using snapshots

By comparing past snapshots with the latest snapshot, you can detect if a website has been significantly modified by a virus or a third party.

Appmill summary

 

• Communication check
• status code
• Domain expiration date
• SSL expiration date
• Broken link monitoring
• HTML difference confirmation
• Snapshot difference confirmation

Apmil not only provides external monitoring of the above items, but also

In addition, we can also provide anti-malware and social engineering measures

Inquire about Apmil

Furthermore, we plan to add updates from time to time, so please look forward to it!

 

If you are introducing a website monitoring (URL monitoring) tool, you should also check the monitoring interval.

Website monitoring (URL monitoring) tools have different monitoring intervals for each service. The monitoring interval is the frequency at which the system checks the status of your website.

The shorter the monitoring interval, the safer it will be, but depending on the application, such a short monitoring interval may not be necessary, so before introducing it, make a comprehensive comparison of other functions, the number of URLs that can be registered, etc. Deploy monitoring tools.

Furthermore, if the monitoring interval is 5 minutes, it can be said that the monitoring frequency is sufficient for peace of mind.

Especially in the case of free plans, there are many cases where the monitoring interval is longer, so it is a good idea to check in advance.

For your reference, here we will list the monitoring intervals of three typical website monitoring (URL monitoring) tools based on information published on the official website as of 2021.

Site24x7

MONITORING PLUS

 

Appmill

With Beyond, we can also build and operate and maintain servers.

In addition, our company Beyond also provides MSP (server construction, maintenance and operation). If you have any questions about servers, please contact Beyond

 

Apmil functions and operating procedure introduction video

A video introducing Apmil's functions and operating procedures is available on Youtube below.

Please take a look when considering it.

 

summary

The most important thing you can do to avoid missing out on business opportunities with your website is to operate your website from the user's perspective

The most essential thing in this case is to maintain the communication status normally, and it is important to check the following four points.

• Communication check (response speed)
• status code
• Check domain expiration date
• Checking the SSL expiration date

It is difficult to monitor 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, so it is better to rely on external sites for monitoring.

The sites introduced this time are as follows.

Site24x7

UPTRENDS

Uptime Robot

Appmill

Please take advantage of it to increase user satisfaction and avoid missing out on business opportunities!

The above is about "Explanation of items to be monitored on a website & comparison of website monitoring services".

Thank you for watching until the end.