The Challenge: Service-Level Management and Monitoring

A critical requirement in the Azure Expert MSP Audit Checklist is the implementation of 'Service-Level Management and Monitoring' controls within an Automated Cloud Management Platform (ACMP). This refers to the capability of conducting thorough monitoring across an application or solution environment managed by the Managed Service Provider (MSP) in Azure.

This monitoring encompasses various aspects, including the health of resources/services, their utilization, incident statuses, as well as logging and alerts—whether manual, automated, or machine learning-based.

Solution Overview

To meet these requirements, it is essential to adopt an Automated Cloud Management Platform equipped with monitoring, logging, and alerting functionalities. In a previous article, we explored how to set up Morpheus Data; for detailed deployment guidance, refer to the following resource: [Insert Resource Link].

Now, we will examine how Morpheus Data can assist us in fulfilling the requirements outlined in the Azure Expert MSP Audit Checklist.

Service-Level Management and Monitoring Features in Morpheus Data

Before executing any operations in your Azure subscription, it is necessary to connect the Morpheus Data appliance to Azure. For steps on establishing this connection, consult the following resource: [Insert Resource Link].

Once the connection is established, you can begin managing Azure resources through Morpheus Data. This platform gathers monitoring telemetry from a wide range of Azure sources, enhancing the availability and performance of your applications and services.

Upon logging into the Morpheus Data appliance, you will find a 'Monitoring' section. This area provides insights into the health and status of the resources in your Azure environment.

Morpheus Data automatically implements a 'Check' in the monitoring service each time a resource is deployed. These 'Checks' are organized into a hierarchy categorized by "Groups" and "Apps" to facilitate easy identification of potential issues for each environment.

The monitoring section offers various views and controls. You will encounter an option labeled 'Status,' which presents a dashboard summarizing the overall state of your environment.

The video titled Microsoft Bookings Tutorial; Everything You Need to Know provides an overview of the functionalities available in Morpheus Data, including its monitoring capabilities.

Morpheus Data Monitoring — Status Overview

From the Status dashboard, you can dive deeper into each resource's details and review recent activities. There is a dedicated section for 'Logs,' where you can analyze all logs and filter them by severity level.

Logging configurations can be managed in the Administration > Settings > Logs section. For further details on Morpheus Data logs, please refer to this URL: [Insert URL].

Within the 'Apps' section, you can create specific monitors for applications and associate 'Checks' to gain better insights into their status.

Creating and Managing Checks

This leads us to the process of creating a Check. Here, you can define 'Checks' for your resources with a detailed setup for establishing the criteria for each Check.

In the incidents section, you can generate incidents, include resolutions, and report the status of each incident. Additionally, you will have access to a list of incidents and the ability to filter them.

Finally, the Alert Rules section allows you to configure notifications for any incidents that arise.

Additional Documentation

For more information about Morpheus Data's monitoring capabilities, consult the following URL: [Insert URL].

Conclusion

This article illustrates how Morpheus Data empowers MSPs to facilitate Single Sign-On (SSO), manage user access, and control management for both end customers and the MSP.

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-Dave R.