What is Synthetic Monitoring?

Introduction 

A system that allows you to identify potential issues in your digital services before they even occur—this is exactly what Synthetic Monitoring offers. 

We are talking about a proactive approach that simulates user interactions to ensure everything runs smoothly, 24/7. 

In practice, Synthetic Monitoring is a crucial solution for preventing downtime, maintaining high service standards, and ensuring user satisfaction. And we all know how much the current challenges revolve around improving user experience quality. 

From e-commerce to SaaS platforms, Synthetic Monitoring adapts to the various characteristics and needs of companies, offering an essential tool for anyone who wants to keep their digital services efficient at all times. 

What is Synthetic Monitoring? 

Let’s dive into a more operational level: Synthetic Monitoring is a set of techniques that use predefined scripts to simulate typical user actions on websites, applications, or services. 

These scripts replicate activities such as: 

• Logging into a portal. 

• Making an online purchase. 

• Checking the availability of an API (and much more). 

As mentioned earlier, the goal is to identify performance or functionality issues before they impact real users. Unlike Real-User Monitoring (RUM), which collects data from actual interactions, Synthetic Monitoring continuously tests systems, even in the absence of real traffic. 

Key Features of Synthetic Monitoring Systems 

We have already touched on the functionality, usefulness, and characteristics of Synthetic Monitoring systems. Here is a detailed list of their main features: 

• Proactive monitoring: Accurately identifies potential issues before they affect users. 

• Customization: Allows the creation of tailored scripts for specific scenarios—an essential factor since every business has unique characteristics and needs. 

• Global coverage: A good Synthetic Monitoring system simulates interactions from various locations to assess performance on a geographical scale. 

• Detailed metrics: Analyzes parameters such as response times, loading speeds, and error rates. The breadth and depth of these data points fuel the continuous improvement of these systems. 

Now, let’s focus on the processes of Synthetic Monitoring and the different phases involved. 

Synthetic Monitoring – The Different Process Phases 

Synthetic Monitoring follows a structured process that includes script creation, regular testing, and data analysis. Let’s examine these steps in more detail. 

1. Script Creation 

Scripts are designed to simulate the most crucial workflows for a company’s users. For example: 

• Simulating a product search on an e-commerce site. 

• Testing an API’s response to a specific request. 

• Checking the functionality of a shopping cart. 

• Simulating a digital payment process. 

In other business contexts, scripts can also mimic: 

• The digital onboarding process for employees. 

• Data retrieval functions in a corporate database. 

• Automatic software updates. 

These are just a few examples—the scope of application is vast. 

2. Test Execution 

Scripts are executed regularly according to a predefined schedule that aligns with the company’s needs. Tests can be conducted from: 

• Various geographical locations, to verify global performance. 

• Different devices and browsers, ensuring omnichannel compatibility and consistency. 

3. Data Collection and Analysis 

During testing, detailed data is collected on numerous aspects, including: 

• Response times 

• Error rates 

• Overall system availability 

• Performance under specific conditions, such as different connection speeds 

• System stability under load 

• Resource efficiency (CPU, memory, and other hardware elements, often in combination with APM tools) 

• Compliance with security standards 

• Accuracy in exception handling 

Of course, this is not an exhaustive list. 

4. Issue Reporting 

If a test fails or results fall outside defined parameters, the system must send clear, automated notifications to the IT team, enabling a quick response to resolve any issues. 

The Benefits of Synthetic Monitoring 

1. Proactive Issue Detection 

As emphasized from the beginning, Synthetic Monitoring enables the identification of anomalies and performance issues before they affect users. This approach reduces downtime and improves customer satisfaction—two interconnected and critically important factors. 

2. Continuous Monitoring 

Unlike Real-User Monitoring, Synthetic Monitoring operates continuously, ensuring performance monitoring even during inactive hours. 

3. Global and Omnichannel Coverage 

Simulating interactions from different locations helps identify regional performance disparities and optimize services for users worldwide. The same applies to various devices. 

4. User Experience Optimization 

This is one of the most significant benefits derived from the previous points. Maintaining high performance levels is essential for user retention. And user retention is crucial for market success. 

With Synthetic Monitoring, companies can offer customers and employees a reliable, fast, and satisfying experience. 

5. SLA Compliance Support 

Finally, Synthetic Monitoring helps organizations meet Service Level Agreements (SLAs) by providing concrete performance data and reducing the risk of penalties. 

Practical Applications of Synthetic Monitoring Across Industries 

E-commerce 

For an e-commerce site, ensuring that payment processes are fast, secure, and error-free is essential. Synthetic Monitoring ensures that all steps in the purchase flow work correctly, preventing issues that could lead to abandoned carts and transaction failures. 

SaaS and Business Applications 

For Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) providers, Synthetic Monitoring is crucial for verifying that APIs, databases, and core workflows are always available. For instance, an HR management app might use Synthetic Monitoring to ensure that its reporting system operates without interruptions. 

Banking and Financial Sector 

Financial institutions use Synthetic Monitoring to ensure that online banking portals and mobile apps are always secure and operational, allowing for fast and error-free transactions. 

Given the sensitivity of this sector, the importance of this cannot be overstated. 

Healthcare 

Speaking of industries where security and reliability are paramount, we come to the healthcare sector. 

Hospitals and clinics can use Synthetic Monitoring to ensure the availability of online appointment systems, telemedicine platforms, and patient portals—while also maintaining strict data privacy standards. 

Challenges of Synthetic Monitoring 

While the benefits of Synthetic Monitoring are clear and indispensable, its implementation comes with some challenges that must be carefully considered: 

• Script Maintenance: Scripts need regular updates to adapt to changes in workflows or applications. 

• Limitations Compared to Real Users: Synthetic Monitoring cannot fully capture the experience of individual users. 

• False Positives: Incorrectly configured metrics and thresholds can generate unnecessary alerts, overwhelming IT teams. 

• Initial Costs: Implementing and maintaining a Synthetic Monitoring system requires a significant investment in resources and expertise. However, in most cases, this investment is well justified by its long-term returns. 

Conclusion 

Synthetic Monitoring is a valuable and essential tool for any company managing complex digital services (which, today, is the vast majority). 

By ensuring continuous performance monitoring, it identifies issues before they arise, enabling organizations to offer optimal user experiences. 

By integrating Synthetic Monitoring with other tools, such as Real-User Monitoring (RUM) and ITSM platforms, companies can gain a comprehensive view of performance and system health, combining proactive and reactive monitoring. 

This combined approach significantly enhances service quality and fosters trust-based relationships with customers, increasing retention rates. 

FAQ 

1. What is Synthetic Monitoring?  A system that uses scripts to simulate user interactions and measure the performance of websites, applications, and services for continuous optimization. 
2. What are the main benefits?  Proactive issue detection, continuous monitoring, global optimization, and improved customer experience. 
3. Which industries benefit from Synthetic Monitoring?  Practically any industry requiring reliability and stability, but especially e-commerce, SaaS, financial services, healthcare, and other sectors where service continuity is crucial.