The Best Hybrid Cloud Observability Tools

Hybrid cloud observability tools are software applications that provide real-time monitoring and analysis of both on-premises and cloud-based IT infrastructure and applications. They enable IT teams to track the performance, availability, and health of their hybrid cloud environments and detect issues before they affect end users.

These tools typically collect data from various sources, such as logs, metrics, and traces, and use machine learning and other advanced techniques to analyze the data and generate insights. They can also provide alerts, visualizations, and dashboards to help IT teams quickly identify and resolve issues.

Here is our list of the best hybrid cloud observability tools:

1. SolarWinds Observability EDITOR’S CHOICE This full stack package summarizes all of the other system monitoring tools offered by SolarWinds. It provides path analysis and monitoring for connections, servers, virtualizations, and application activity. This software runs on Windows Server and is priced per host. Get a 30-day free trial.
2. ManageEngine Applications Manager (FREE TRIAL) This package will monitor servers and cloud platforms as well as the software that runs on them, which makes it a good hybrid observability platform. Get a 30-day free trial.
3. Site24x7 Cloud Monitoring (FREE TRIAL) This cloud-based system will track activity and performance on AWS, GCP, and Azure, while companion modules watch on-premises assets. Start a 30-day free trial.
4. Datadog Observability This cloud-based system provides many modules that you can assemble into a single console for full stack monitoring.
5. Splunk Observability Benefiting from the Splunk data analysis system, this package provides data gathering systems that include a log server and distributed tracing to unify system monitoring. Available as a SaaS platform or for installation on Linux.
6. Faddom This discovery and mapping system can document networks, hardware, and applications. Runs as a virtual appliance.
7. Sumo Logic Observability This cloud-based system gathers logs from on-site and cloud systems to provide performance monitoring services.
8. AppDynamics Observability This cloud-based system provides infrastructure and APM plans that apply AI to predict resource shortages and performance problems.
9. Dynatrace Observability This AIOps service collects on-premises and cloud service performance data for performance analysis on its cloud platform.

Hybrid cloud observability tools are especially important for organizations that have embraced the microservices architecture or organizations that have deployed applications and services across multiple environments, including on-premises data centers, public cloud providers, and private clouds. While this approach streamlines the entire process, it also poses a challenge in tracking and resolving issues within the environment’s components. Organizations require a clear view of these components to gain insights into their application’s performance.

This is where hybrid cloud observability tools come into play. By providing a unified view of the entire infrastructure, these tools can help organizations improve their IT performance, reduce downtime, and enhance the overall user experience. In this article, we will review the six best hybrid cloud observability tools out there. Hopefully, this will guide you in the process of choosing the right one for your organization.

The Best Hybrid Cloud Observability Tools

1. SolarWinds Hybrid Cloud Observability (FREE TRIAL)

SolarWinds Hybrid Cloud Observability offers a hybrid cloud observability solution that provides organizations with real-time visibility and actionable insights into their cloud and on-premises infrastructure. The solution is designed to help organizations monitor and optimize their application performance, user experience, and infrastructure health in hybrid environments.

Key Features:

• Full Stack Observability: Monitors networks, servers, and applications
• Tracks Assets Across Platforms: On-premises and cloud resources
• Hardware Monitoring: Discovers devices and creates a hardware inventory
• Traffic Analysis: Uses flow protocols
• Server Monitoring: Physical and virtual servers

SolarWinds Observability consolidates and expands insight throughout your entire technology stack, which backs your custom and modern web applications. This aids in ensuring that critical business services meet the necessary service level objectives and provide the best possible user experience.

The SolarWinds solution includes features such as cloud infrastructure monitoring, which allows organizations to monitor their cloud environments and optimize performance and cost, as well as application performance monitoring, which provides deep insights into application performance across multiple environments. The solution also includes synthetic monitoring, which enables organizations to simulate user interactions with their applications and proactively identify issues before they impact users. Additionally, SolarWinds offers log monitoring, which provides centralized log management and analysis to help organizations detect and resolve issues faster.

SolarWinds also provides a unified dashboard that allows organizations to visualize and analyze data from multiple sources in a single view, enabling them to quickly identify trends and anomalies. The solution also offers automated remediation, which allows organizations to automate the resolution of common issues and reduce manual intervention. Overall, SolarWinds provides a comprehensive and integrated solution for hybrid cloud observability, enabling organizations to gain deep insights into their infrastructure, optimize performance, and improve the user experience.

SolarWinds offers multiple licensing and price plans for their hybrid cloud observability solution, which are designed to meet the needs and budgets of different organizations. SolarWinds provides flexible and customizable licensing and pricing options for their hybrid cloud observability solution, which allows organizations to choose the plan that best suits their needs and budget.

A 30-day free trial is available on request.

2. ManageEngine Applications Manager (FREE TRIAL)

ManageEngine Applications Manager is a hybrid monitoring tool for on-premises and cloud systems because it is able to monitor both servers and cloud platforms together with the software that runs on them.

Key Features:

• Track On-Premises Software: Also cloud-hosted systems
• Cloud Services Monitoring: IaaS and PaaS
• Monitors on Premises Systems: Physical and virtual servers
• Web Application Monitoring: Distributed tracing and code profiling

The competence of this package extended to serverless systems, which are hosted on cloud platforms but were traditionally difficult to monitor due to the impossibility of installing monitoring agents on the supporting host.

This tool is able to track the activity and performance of microservices by implementing distributed tracing. It also offers code profiling for Web application coding languages. This combination of systems provides automated monitoring and tools for investigation.

Traditional services, such as databases and Web servers are also covered by this package and those applications can be running on physical servers on your site or virtual servers on the cloud.

You don’t have to limit your Applications Manager implementation to just monitoring on-premises servers or cloud platforms. You can cover all platforms all at once in a single console. That console is customizable, so you can generate your own screens that crowd in your most important metrics.

Like all ManageEngine tools, this system can be set up to generate alerts in certain circumstances. Those alerts will appear in the dashboard for Applications Manager and they can also be forwarded as notifications. Those messages can be sent to technicians through SMS, email, Slack post, or Service Desk tickets.

Applications Manager is a software package for Windows Server or Linux. It is also available as a service on Azure and AWS. ManageEngine offers Applications Manager for a 30-day free trial.

ManageEngine Applications Manager Start a 30-day FREE Trial

3. Site24x7 Cloud Monitoring (FREE TRIAL)

The Site24x7 Cloud Monitoring module is a cloud-based SaaS package is a hybrid observability service because it monitors public and private cloud systems and also on-site assets. As well as tracking activity and capacity. This system provides cost management for cloud accounts and even recommends the best value system for specific needs. You can right-size reserved-capacity services with this tool.

Key Features:

• Cloud Monitoring: AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud Platform
• On-Premises Monitoring: Networks, physical servers, virtual systems
• Clouds Cost Reduction: Recommends strategies to lower spend

The cost management feature of the cloud monitoring service is part of the Guidance Report feature. This doesn’t just cover cost tracking because it also provides configuration recommendations and analyzes security issues, operating as a Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) tool.

The Site24x7 platform isn’t just about monitoring cloud systems. Each plan includes monitors for servers, networks, and infrastructure. You can monitor your hosted system alongside tracking for cloud-based assets. This is a good solution for companies that host their own Web services, such as a Web server, while also deploying serverless functions and APIs provided by third-party software houses. Companies that run all of their systems on premises but use cloud productivity systems, such as Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 will also benefit from the Site24x7 plans.

Site24x7 provides many modules on its cloud platform and all of them are bundled together in plans. Cloud Monitoring is part of every plan and you can get other services, such as Synthetic Monitoring and Real User Monitoring for websites, Network Device Monitoring and Network Traffic Monitoring for site management, and also Log ~Management and Network Configuration Management. Site24x7 offers an edition for managed service providers. You can try any plan with a 30-day free trial.

Site24x7 Access a 30-day FREE Trial

4. Datadog Observability

Datadog is a popular hybrid cloud observability tool that can help organizations gain visibility into their hybrid cloud environments. It is a cloud-based monitoring platform that offers a range of observability features, including infrastructure monitoring, application performance monitoring (APM), log management, network monitoring, and more.

Key Features:

• Delivered from the Cloud: A platform of many system monitoring modules
• Infrastructure Monitoring: All the services between user interfaces and the network
• Servers and Applications: Correlates demand, resource availability, and performance issues

Datadog allows you to customize this insight to your stack by collecting and correlating data from more than 600 vendor-backed technologies, all in a single pane of glass. Organizations can monitor their on-premises and cloud-based infrastructure and applications in real-time, with customizable dashboards, alerts, and notifications to help identify and troubleshoot issues. Datadog also provides machine learning-based anomaly detection and correlation analysis to help users identify and diagnose issues faster.

Datadog has integrations with various cloud providers, including AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, making it easier to monitor hybrid cloud environments. It also has integrations with popular technologies such as Kubernetes, Docker, and Terraform, providing enhanced observability for modern applications and infrastructure. In all, Datadog’s hybrid cloud observability capabilities can help organizations improve their IT performance, reduce downtime, and enhance the user experience across their hybrid cloud environments.

Datadog’s pricing model is based on the amount of data ingested and indexed by the platform, with different pricing tiers and features available based on the specific needs of the organization. Datadog offers a variety of pricing plans, including a free tier for small-scale use, as well as plans designed for larger enterprises. A 14-day free trial is available on request.

5. Splunk Observability

Splunk observability is a widely used on-premises, hybrid cloud, multi-cloud, and cloud-native observability tool that enables organizations to gain insights and visibility into their on-premises and cloud-based environments. It is a data analytics and monitoring platform that offers log analytics, metrics monitoring, and real-time observability across hybrid cloud environments.

Key Features:

• On-Premises or SaaS: Splunk Enterprise or Splunk Cloud
• Fault Detection: Scans log messages
• AIOps: Predictive alerts

Splunk Observability Cloud provides full-fidelity monitoring and troubleshooting across infrastructure, applications, and user interfaces. Organizations can ingest and analyze large volumes of log and machine data from various sources, including cloud providers, network devices, and applications, in real-time. The platform also provides customizable dashboards, alerts, and visualizations to help identify and troubleshoot issues quickly.

Splunk’s hybrid cloud observability capabilities are enhanced by its integrations with various cloud providers, including AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, as well as popular technologies such as Kubernetes, Docker, and Istio. This allows organizations to monitor their hybrid cloud environments more effectively and gain visibility into their infrastructure, applications, and services.

Splunk also offers machine learning-based anomaly detection and predictive analytics, enabling users to identify and address issues before they impact end-users. Overall, Splunk’s hybrid cloud observability capabilities make it a powerful tool for organizations looking to improve their IT performance and optimize their hybrid cloud environments.

Splunk’s licensing model is based on the amount of data ingested and indexed by the platform. The pricing model for Splunk varies based on the specific licensing option chosen by the customer, as well as the amount of data ingested and indexed per day. Splunk offers several licensing options, including perpetual, term, and cloud subscriptions, with different pricing structures and features. A free 14-day free trial of Splunk Cloud is available.

6. Faddom

Faddom is an IT asset discovery and documentation service. This tool identifies all equipment that is connected to your network, which includes switches, routers, firewalls, and other network appliances. The tool also records all of the endpoints on the system. Each device is fully documented and logged in an inventory.

Key Features:

• Network Discovery: Inventory creation and mapping
• Application Discovery: Application dependency mapping
• Traffic Analysis: For security monitoring

The asset inventory provides source data for a network map. This shows identifiers for each device and provides a link to a details page. Each device’s IP address is shown and each connection on the map shows interface details.

Faddom also provides an Application Map service. This is compiled by a crawling process. The tool starts with a sever and looks at all running processes. It then traces all processes that are branched from that and registers a link for each. The system crawls across platforms and will even extend to components that are hosted by other companies. All of these interacting applications are documented in detail.

The Application Map shows a summary for each node but you can also click through for more detail. Both the network mapping and application map services refresh continuously, so new assets in your system will get added as soon as they are detected.

The Faddom package is an on-premises system. It runs on a customized hypervisor that is supplied with the software bundle. This makes the tool a virtual appliance. You can find out more about Faddom by accessing a free trial.

7. Sumo Logic Observability

Sumo Logic is a cloud-based hybrid cloud observability tool that helps organizations monitor and troubleshoot their on-premises and cloud-based infrastructure and applications. It is a machine data analytics platform that provides real-time insights into hybrid cloud environments.

Key Features:

• Based on Logs: Includes a log server
• Hybrid Observability: Tracks on-premises and cloud resources
• Easy to Run: Many automated process flows

Sumo Logic offers features such as log analytics, metrics monitoring, and real-time dashboards, enabling users to gain visibility into their hybrid cloud environments and quickly identify and troubleshoot issues. The platform also provides integrations with popular cloud providers such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, as well as technologies like Kubernetes, Docker, and more.

One of the key benefits of Sumo Logic is its ability to analyze large volumes of data in real-time, making it ideal for organizations with complex hybrid cloud environments. Sumo Logic also offers machine learning-based anomaly detection and predictive analytics, allowing users to identify issues before they impact end-users.

Another advantage of Sumo Logic is its compliance and security features, which help organizations meet regulatory requirements and ensure their hybrid cloud environments are secure. Sumo Logic is a powerful hybrid cloud observability tool that can help organizations optimize their IT performance and improve the user experience across their hybrid cloud environments.

Sumo Logic supports integration with over 250 technologies. This lets you get data from your on-premise and cloud infrastructure, applications, and services into your Sumo Logic platform. A 30-minute demo and a 30-day free trial with full access to all the features are available on request, with no credit card required. After the trial, it will revert to the Free account, and you will be required to purchase a valid license to continue using the service.

8. AppDynamics Observability  

AppDynamics is a popular hybrid cloud observability tool that enables organizations to gain insights into their applications and infrastructure across on-premises and cloud environments. It is a monitoring and analytics platform that offers application performance monitoring (APM) and business performance monitoring (BPM) capabilities.

Key Features:

• Infrastructure Monitoring: All of the software and services between user-facing systems and the network
• Software Activity Tracking: Application performance monitoring
• Multiple Plans Available: One edition specializes in SAP monitoring

AppDynamics can monitor your applications and infrastructure in real-time, with customizable dashboards, alerts, and notifications to help identify and troubleshoot issues. The platform also provides integrations with popular cloud providers, such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, making it easier to monitor hybrid cloud environments.

AppDynamics’ APM and BPM capabilities allow users to monitor the performance of their applications and infrastructure, gain insights into user experience, and identify and troubleshoot issues quickly. The platform also offers machine learning-based anomaly detection and root cause analysis, enabling users to identify and address issues before they impact end-users.

Another advantage of AppDynamics is its ability to correlate business metrics with application and infrastructure performance, providing users with a complete view of how their applications impact their business. This can help organizations make more informed decisions about their IT investments and improve the overall user experience. AppDynamics’ hybrid cloud observability capabilities make it a powerful tool for organizations looking to optimize their IT performance and improve the user experience across their hybrid cloud environments.

AppDynamics offers several licensing and pricing plans for its hybrid cloud observability tool, depending on the needs of the organization. The pricing plans are generally based on the number of agents or nodes that are being monitored. It’s important to note that AppDynamics’ pricing may vary depending on the organization’s needs, and pricing for hybrid cloud observability may be higher due to the complexity of monitoring multiple environments. A 15-day free trial is available on request.

9. Dynatrace Observability  

Dynatrace is a cutting-edge provider of intelligent hybrid cloud observability solutions, which give organizations the ability to monitor and optimize their application performance, user experience, and infrastructure health in on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments. With Dynatrace, users can benefit from AI-powered monitoring, which uses machine learning algorithms to automatically detect and analyze anomalies and performance issues across the entire hybrid environment.

Key Features:

• Application Dependency Mapping: Predicts upcoming resource requirements
• AIOps: Forecasting
• Cross-Platform Monitoring: Stronger at monitoring cloud systems

This solution provides real-time visibility into the health and performance of applications and infrastructure, with automatic root-cause analysis and context-rich insights, enabling proactive identification and resolution of issues before they impact users. Additionally, Dynatrace provides cloud automation, which allows for the automation of deployment, scaling, and management of applications and infrastructure across cloud and hybrid environments, with support for Kubernetes, AWS, Azure, and other cloud platforms.

Users can also benefit from business analytics, which provides insight into the impact of applications and services on business outcomes, such as conversion rates, revenue, and user engagement. Finally, Dynatrace offers an open ecosystem that allows for easy integration with other tools and platforms, such as service desk solutions, collaboration tools, and DevOps tool chains. Dynatrace provides a comprehensive and integrated solution for hybrid cloud observability, giving organizations the ability to gain deep insights into their entire application stack, optimize performance and user experience, and drive business outcomes.

Dynatrace offers several licensing and pricing plans for its hybrid cloud observability tool, depending on the needs of the organization. The pricing plans are generally based on the number of hosts or instances that are being monitored. A free 15-day trial is available on request.

Choosing the Best Observability Solution for Your Business 

When choosing the best observability solution for your business, it’s important to consider various factors to ensure that the solution meets your specific needs and requirements. Here are some factors to consider:

1. Scope Consider the scope of the tool and whether it can monitor all the components of your application stack, including infrastructure, network, and application performance. A comprehensive observability solution should provide full-stack visibility and offer insights into all layers of your IT infrastructure.
2. Scalability Consider the scalability of the solution and whether it can handle the growth of your business, including the ability to monitor distributed environments and containerized applications. You should also consider the solution’s ability to handle a large volume of data and to scale to meet your future needs.
3. Usability Consider the usability of the solution and whether it’s easy to use and understand. The solution should provide a user-friendly interface and be easy to configure and customize. It’s also important to consider the level of training and support that the solution provider offers.
4. Integration Consider the integration capabilities of the solution and whether it can integrate with other tools and platforms that you’re using. The observability solution should be able to integrate with your existing IT stack and provide a unified view of your infrastructure.
5. AI capabilities Consider the AI capabilities of the solution and whether it uses machine learning algorithms to automatically detect and analyze anomalies and performance issues. An AI-powered solution can help you identify and resolve issues faster and more efficiently.
6. Pricing Consider the pricing of the solution and whether it fits within your budget. You should also consider the pricing model, whether it’s a subscription-based model or a perpetual license.

In conclusion, when evaluating observability solutions, it’s important to consider the specific needs and requirements of your business and choose a solution such as SolarWinds or others listed here that can provide comprehensive monitoring, scalability, usability, integration capabilities, AI capabilities, and a pricing model that fits within your budget.