What is the primary function of active monitoring?

The primary function of active monitoring is to automatically check the current status of a Configuration Item (CI). This proactive approach allows organizations to gather real-time information about the performance and health of their IT infrastructure. By continuously monitoring CIs, teams can ensure that they have up-to-date insights into system status, which aids in identifying and addressing issues before they escalate into more significant problems.

Active monitoring provides immediate feedback on the operational state of CIs, helps in maintaining service levels, and supports effective decision-making during incident management. This approach contrasts with waiting for user-generated alerts, which is reactive and can lead to delays in response times. Reviewing historical performance data is important for trend analysis and forecasting but does not provide the real-time status needed for immediate action. Investigating potential service disruptions focuses on understanding issues after they have occurred, rather than preventing them through continuous monitoring of systems. Thus, focusing on real-time automated checks is vital for maintaining optimal service performance.