Databases are crucial to business processes. Any database outage can cost your business money and clients. This is why it is important to discover database issues in time to keep everything running smoothly, but that's only possible with proper database monitoring. 



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Database monitoring involves the collection of historical data points that are used to generate alerts (for any inconsistencies), to optimize the database, and lastly, to act in advance in case of a problem, such as a failing database. PostgreSQL is an advanced relational database management system and choice for top companies and businesses. Below are four reasons why proactive PostgreSQL monitoring is important. 

1. Eliminates the need for emergency troubleshooting
If you have to constantly stop working on other things to fix database performance problems, it's just a matter of time before you lose sight of the root cause of the problem. It is the priority of every database admin to get and keep their systems online. If a database is repeatedly throwing alerts, the chances are that there is no time left to get to the bottom of the problem and address it. 

That's why a proactive PostgreSQL database monitoring strategy can help to show changes in database functions as they come. This provides a chance to address problems early before they affect the performance of the database. If you are a DBA, find resources online and learn how to monitor PostgreSQL like a pro

2. It helps to identify growth and improvement opportunities
Monitoring your database for a long time helps you to identify areas that need tuning. Excessive resource usage, slow queries, and long wait times are some examples of performance metrics that can be proactively tracked to identify issues within the system. After identifying the problematic functions, performance tuning can help to optimize the system. This allows the system to run more efficiently, which helps to improve the quality of the user experience. 

As part of a proactive PostgreSQL monitoring, you should schedule regular health checks. It is an effective way to maintain awareness of PostgreSQL performance issues so you can prioritize and address the most critical ones first. 

3. Availability
It goes without saying that your application won't work if your database is not running. And if the application is critical, it will affect your users and organization. Availability can be defined in two parts; database availability and host availability. If there is a problem in either or both of them, your application will fail. This is why monitoring your database for availability is crucial. 

4. It reduces resources and time lost in finding hidden issues in the database

The time and resources wasted in constantly putting out database performance fires can be used in doing other activities that are integral to your business' or organization's success. Database administrators not only work behind the scenes to ensure the smooth running of operations, but they also work to ensure database integrity and security, among other critical tasks. 

Endnote
Instead of being reactive and wait for problems to arise so you can fix them, be proactive by monitoring your database to identify issues as they come.