What network performance metrics should you track?

Network performance metrics are the numbers behind how well your network is holding up under pressure, measuring things like speed, reliability, and data flow. Think of them as your network's report card on whether it's operating efficiently or about to cause you headaches.

This article focuses on:

• Why tracking network performance metrics matter
• The 10 most important metrics to track and why
• Ways in which you can track performance metrics
• What poor performance metric tracking could mean for your organization
• How you can improve network performance metric monitoring, including strategies
• Meter’s network performance metric tracking tools of the trade

Why you should track network performance metrics

Skipping out on tracking network performance is like flying blind—you’re just waiting for something to go wrong. Network slowdowns or failures can bring your entire operation to a halt, regardless of if it's missed deadlines, frustrated customers, or delayed services. If you're not keeping an eye on metrics, you won't know there's an issue until it's too late.

A clear example of this is Google Cloud’s network congestion issue in March 2020. A configuration change led to unexpected congestion, resulting in high latency and packet loss, which impacted many of their global services.

Network performance monitoring gives you the power to prevent problems before they disrupt your business. But it’s not all about keeping things running. Monitoring helps you spot inefficiencies, giving you the insights needed to optimize and scale as your business grows. Think of it as avoiding the surprise of a system crash right when you're about to close a big deal.

The takeaway? Tracking network metrics means fewer problems, more uptime, and the ability to grow without constantly worrying about performance crashes.

10 most important network performance metrics for large businesses to monitor

While there are many aspects of network performance, some metrics matter more than others. Of all the possible metrics out there, these ten are the most important for enterprise-level businesses to keep an eye on.

1. Latency

Latency is the time it takes for data to travel across the network from point A to point B. Measured in milliseconds, it’s the digital equivalent of how long it takes someone to respond to a question—hopefully, not too long, or things get awkward.

It’s also a silent killer of productivity and user experience. In real-time applications like video calls or VoIP, high latency means you’re stuck with those uncomfortable lags where you both say, "No, you go first." It doesn’t take much for those milliseconds to pile up and turn a smooth conversation into a stutter-filled mess.

Let’s not forget the impact to critical business operations. Consider a global company with remote teams relying on tools like Zoom for communication. High latency can make meetings feel like everyone’s talking through a tin can with a string attached.

And it’s not just calls—anything that relies on real-time data, like financial transactions or live customer support, can be seriously hampered by high latency. In the financial sector, think stock trading—where high latency could mean missing out on a big trade, and that’s real money on the line.

Low latency is your network's way of keeping up with the fast pace of today’s business grind. When your network responds quickly, so does your business—and your team can avoid those awkward silences.

2. Throughput

Throughput is the total amount of data that successfully moves through your network over a specific period. In simple terms, it’s how much information your network can process without getting bogged down.

It’s a network lifeline—if it’s high, everything flows well, and your team can work without issues. But when throughput takes a hit, you start seeing delays, slow file transfers, and applications dragging. In a business context, low throughput can cripple productivity.

Take file transfers, for example. Let’s say your team is constantly sending big design files to a client. If your network's throughput is high, those files move quickly, and projects get delivered on time. But if throughput is low, the transfer could drag on, potentially delaying deadlines and frustrating everyone involved.

Similarly, cloud applications that rely on data being sent and received quickly—like Google Workspace or Microsoft 365—need strong throughput to keep up. If your throughput lags, so does your team’s ability to collaborate in real time.

Throughput is more than a number—it’s a direct indicator of how well your network can keep up with your business demands.

3. Packet loss

Packet loss happens when data packets, the tiny chunks of information your network sends, don’t make it to their destination. Imagine you’re sending a message, but part of it vanishes along the way—creating gaps in communication.

It can be a real problem for businesses, especially when it creeps into real-time services like VoIP calls or video conferences. Even small amounts of packet loss can result in:

• Poor call quality
• Dropped conversations
• Glitchy video streams

You might hear someone's voice cutting out, or worse, words overlapping in a confusing mess. It can slow down applications, too, because when packets don’t arrive, they often need to be resent, dragging down performance and frustrating users.

Perhaps you’re on an important video call with a client to showcase your latest product. Suddenly, the video stutters, the client’s voice goes in and out, and critical details of the conversation are lost. What's causing the chaos? Packet loss.

For day-to-day operations, packet loss also affects data transfers. If your team is uploading large files or working with cloud-based applications, lost packets mean slower transfers and, sometimes, corrupted files. Even minor losses can compound into larger delays, impacting overall productivity.

4. Jitter

Jitter is the variation in how long it takes for data packets to reach their destination. In a perfect world, every packet would arrive in order, spaced out evenly, but with jitter, some packets take longer than others. This creates uneven delivery, which can mess with how information is processed.

Jitter is the worst enemy of any business that relies on real-time communication—like VoIP calls, video conferencing, or any kind of live-streaming. When packet arrival times are inconsistent, you end up with choppy calls, laggy video, and other disruptions.

It’s the reason you might hear someone speaking in fragments during a call, or why videos freeze at the worst possible moments. High jitter causes packets to arrive out of sync, forcing the system to scramble and piece everything back together, often with poor results.

Maybe you’re on a conference call with an important client, and every few seconds, their voice breaks up, or you miss entire words. That’s jitter in action. 

5. Bandwidth utilization

Bandwidth utilization shows how much of your network’s available bandwidth is being used by traffic at any given time. It’s a percentage that tells you whether your network is coasting or close to its limits.

It’s like keeping an eye on a busy highway—too much traffic and everything slows to a crawl. High utilization means your network is getting congested, which slows down every user and every process that relies on it. In real terms, if your bandwidth is maxed out, file transfers take forever, video calls freeze, and cloud apps struggle to stay functional.

In a large business, everything from critical apps to emails relies on the network, and if you don’t keep an eye on bandwidth usage, things can slow down fast. The real kicker? It’s often one team or application that’s using way more than its share while the rest of the network struggles.

Monitoring bandwidth utilization allows you to see exactly where the traffic is coming from and take action. Maybe someone’s running huge data backups during peak hours, or a video conferencing tool isn’t playing nice with the network.

Once you know what’s happening, you can adjust things—throttle less important services or prioritize essential tasks—so the network stays fast for everyone without dragging down productivity.

6. Network availability

Network availability is the percentage of time your network is up and running as expected. In simple terms, it measures how often your users can connect without issues. For any business, especially at the enterprise level, this is a big deal—because if your network isn’t available, your team can’t work, and customers can’t reach your services.

When a network goes down often, or even with small but consistent outages, it can lead to losses in time, money, and damage to your business’s reputation. Downtime can quickly become a serious issue, especially in industries that rely on constant communication or service delivery, like:

• SaaS
• E-commerce
• Financial services

Missed deadlines, interrupted workflows, and frustrated customers leaving for competitors are just some of the consequences of an unstable network. Take, for example, an e-commerce platform during a flash sale. If the network availability dips even for a few minutes, not only do you lose sales, but customers are left frustrated and might not return.

Maintaining high availability often involves redundancy measures, such as backup links, failover systems, and constant monitoring to detect and resolve issues before they cause real harm. Achieving near-100% availability should be a top priority for any large business because your network is only ever as good as its uptime.

7. Error rate

Error rate measures the number of corrupted or dropped packets during data transmission. Errors can happen for many reasons, like:

• Too much traffic on the network
• Broken hardware
• Interference
• Software glitches

These issues show that something isn’t working right.

When you send an important file and some data doesn’t make it or arrives wrong, the device receiving it has to ask for the missing parts again. This causes delays. If this keeps happening across many devices, the errors add up and slow down the whole network.

When there are a lot of errors, systems have to resend data more often, which slows down apps, annoys users, and wastes bandwidth. It’s like having a conversation where parts keep cutting out—it’s frustrating and costly to fix if ignored.

8. Response time

Response time is the amount of time it takes for a network device or server to respond to a request. Essentially, it’s how fast someone gets back to you after you send them a message. In network terms, it measures the delay between sending a request (like opening a webpage or querying a database) and receiving a response.

It’s one of those metrics that can make or break user experience. People these days expect things instantly. A slow response time can be the difference between satisfied users and frustrated ones.

If your team is waiting on applications or servers to respond, productivity takes a nosedive. Plus, if your customers are interacting with your network—whether through websites, apps, or other digital services—slow response times can cost you sales, clients, and reputation.

9. Connection stability

Connection stability refers to how reliable and consistent your network connections are over time. When connections drop, productivity takes a hit. Imagine you're deep in a virtual meeting, and the connection drops right before an important point. Or worse, cloud-based applications disconnect mid-task, causing delays and lost progress. Nothing but bad can come of it.

In a factory setting, if devices controlling automation processes lose connection, production can grind to a halt. A stable network makes sure that machinery and equipment can communicate without interruptions, keeping operations moving.

10. Network throughput per application

Network throughput per application refers to the amount of data an individual application can send and receive over your network within a specific time frame. It’s essentially how much bandwidth each app is consuming at any given moment.

It matters for a very simple reason—not all apps are created equal. Some applications are critical for business operations, like your CRM or cloud-based tools, while others are just bandwidth hogs (we're looking at you, random streaming videos).

When a few non-essential apps are taking up too much of the network's resources, your critical business applications might suffer. We’re talking:

• Delays
• Slower response times
• Potential downtime

Imagine your team uses cloud software to work together and a heavy app for data. If the data app uses most of the bandwidth, the teamwork tools could slow down, frustrating everyone.

Tracking network throughput per application helps keep things in balance. You can avoid a situation where non-essential apps are hogging bandwidth, which keeps critical business functions performing at their best.

How you can monitor network performance

Monitoring network performance metrics effectively requires the right tools. Two key methods that exist include network monitoring tools and built-in diagnostics.

Network monitoring tools

You want eyes on every part of your network at once, around the clock? Then you need to invest in network monitoring tools. They track real-time data and show you what’s going on behind the scenes—like how fast your network responds (latency) and how much data gets lost (packet loss).

Network performance monitoring software give a detailed view of how your network is working. It helps you find problems, see patterns, and fix issues before they become big.

They’re essential for catching problems early and making sure your network is running as efficiently as possible. Without them, you’d be guessing, rather than knowing, where the issues are located. Meter offers its own solution where network monitoring is concerned, but we’ll get into that shortly.

Built-in diagnostics

Built-in diagnostics, like Ping and Traceroute, are your go-to tools for quick network checks. They’re simple, fast, and get the job done when you need to quickly figure out what’s going wrong. These tools help you check latency and connectivity—basically, how fast data is moving and if it’s actually getting where it’s supposed to go.

While they’re not going to give you the full, in-depth picture like advanced monitoring systems, they’re perfect for spot-checking your network. If a web page is loading slower than usual or a server isn’t responding, ping and traceroute can show you if there’s a slowdown or a broken link along the way. It’s like having a quick troubleshooting button when you don’t need a full investigation.

Meter’s approach to network performance monitoring

We offer a monitoring solution that tracks network performance metrics in real time. Our platform, the Meter dashboard, simplifies how you monitor network performance, providing alerts when issues arise, helping you address them promptly. This real-time data allows you to respond quickly to problems instead of waiting for complaints.

Latency and packet loss monitoring

Meter keeps an eye on latency and packet loss across your network in real time. Unlike basic tools like ping or traceroute that give you quick, one-time checks, our platform continuously monitors these metrics.

This gives you a clear view of how they change over time, so you're never caught off guard. And when something starts to go wrong, you’ll get alerts right away, letting you tackle issues before they slow things down.

Throughput and bandwidth utilization analysis

Meter’s platform makes it easy to stay on top of your network’s throughput and bandwidth utilization. You get real-time data on how your network is handling traffic and how much bandwidth is being used at any moment.

Instead of dealing with complicated monitoring tools, our system gives you simple, clear insights to help you manage network performance easily. It’s an easy way to keep your network working well, without making things harder than they need to be.

Jitter tracking for real-time applications

We track jitter as part of our network monitoring, so you can easily keep an eye on any variations in packet arrival times. All of this happens right in our Dashboard—no need to juggle multiple tools. You’re able to maintain high-quality communication, whether you’re on a call or in a video meeting, without worrying about a messy connection.

Network availability and error rate monitoring

Meter keeps watch on your network's availability and tracks error rates with advanced diagnostics built right into our platform. If your network's stability starts to dip or error rates begin creeping up, you’ll get alerts right away. You can jump in and fix any issues before they cause bigger problems, keeping the network rolling.

Response time and connection stability insights

Meter tracks how fast your important devices and apps respond, giving you the data to keep things running quickly. It also watches for connection problems and sends real-time alerts if connections drop too often.

Application-level throughput tracking

Meter gives you clear insights into how much bandwidth each app uses. This makes it easier to control resources and avoid network congestion. Everything is managed from our simple Dashboard, making network monitoring easier.

Effects of poor network performance metrics

Network performance is more than just numbers. Here’s how poor performance can impact your business:

• High latency, packet loss, and jitter all slow applications, reducing employee productivity and limiting network scalability.
• Customers become dissatisfied with delayed responses and slow services, potentially turning to competitors.
• Unreliable networks open security vulnerabilities, increasing the risk of breaches.
• Network issues lead to lost sales, missed opportunities, and increased operational costs.
• Repeated network problems damage your business’s reputation, eroding client and customer trust.
• In regulated industries, poor network performance risks compliance violations, leading to fines or legal consequences.
• Frequent network issues lower employee morale, causing frustration and potential turnover.
• Poor network performance hampers your ability to adopt new technologies, stifling growth and innovation.

Monitoring and managing network performance metrics keeps these problems in check, saving you time, money, and avoiding future trouble.

How can you improve network performance metrics?

Improving network performance starts with making smart upgrades and adjustments. Here are a few ways to boost important metrics.

Upgrade network hardware

Old hardware can slow your network and cause issues with handling modern traffic. Upgrading your routers, switches, and access points improves speed and keeps everything running well.

With Meter’s NaaS model, hardware upgrades are included, so you don’t have to worry about finding or buying new equipment. We take care of it, making sure your network stays updated and ready for anything.

Optimize network configuration

Set your network up right for strong performance from the get-go. Adjusting router settings, tweaking firewall rules, and prioritizing important traffic can help cut down delays and packet loss. Our software handles these changes automatically, keeping your network working at its best. It also catches problems early, so you can avoid spending time fixing them later.

Use network segmentation

Network segmentation helps by separating high-traffic areas from the rest of your network, keeping congestion from spreading. Meter’s custom designs organize your network to allow your traffic to flow effortlessly and reduce slowdowns. It’s an easy way to boost performance and make sure busy areas don’t drag down the whole system.

Try automated troubleshooting

Tracking down network issues can take a lot of time and cause frustration. Waiting for someone to report a problem or checking logs manually slows down fixes. Automated troubleshooting finds issues as they happen, allowing faster responses. Meter’s system uses automated diagnostics to spot problems and suggest solutions, helping you resolve issues before they become big disruptions.

Build with scalable network infrastructure

When your business grows, you add more devices, users, and traffic to your network. If your setup can't keep up, you’ll start to see slowdowns. Scalable infrastructure helps your network expand as demand increases, so performance stays strong. Meter’s NaaS model makes it simple to add capacity without complex upgrades.

How do proactive network management strategies help maintain performance?

Proactive network management is like having a network that knows what’s coming and prepares for it. Instead of waiting for a crisis, you’re actively monitoring and tuning your system to avoid disruptions before they hit. Nobody enjoys putting out fires, and scrambling to fix preventable problems wastes time and energy. It’s better to take a proactive approach, resulting in:

• Less downtime
• Fewer user complaints
• More control over your network’s performance

Meter’s tools make managing your network easier, allowing you to handle challenges before they hit. Staying ahead has never been simpler or less stressful.

Meter’s NaaS tools can track and improve your network performance

A company’s network must perform—for employees, customers, and the bottom line. At Meter, we understand tracking network performance metrics is a must. We also believe it should be as simple as possible.

Our Network as a Service (NaaS) platform integrates all the tools necessary to monitor and manage your network. No more stressing over hardware or design issues either. We’ve built an all-in-one solution that takes the weight off your IT team’s shoulders so that their focus is directed toward more important projects and innovation.

Here’s what you get with Meter:

• Meter Dashboard: Enjoy real-time insights from a single dashboard, making it super easy to keep an eye on your network.
• The right equipment: We take care of hardware upgrades for switches, routers, and access points, so you don’t have to worry about outdated gear.
• A network that scales: Our scalable network designs grow with your business, so you’re always ready for more traffic.
• Continued support: You get ongoing support long after the installation process.
• Real-time automation: Automated troubleshooting kicks in to solve problems fast, so you don’t have to.
• Activity monitoring: Real-time monitoring means you catch potential issues before they become real problems.

Find out for yourself what our NaaS can offer you by scheduling a demo.