Azure Monitor vs Sensu: What are the differences?

Introduction:

Azure Monitor and Sensu are both monitoring solutions that help organizations ensure the availability, performance, and reliability of their applications and infrastructure. While they share some similarities, there are key differences that set them apart.

1. Scalability and Integration Abilities: Azure Monitor is a fully integrated monitoring service provided by Microsoft Azure, which makes it easy to monitor resources across Azure, on-premises, and other cloud environments. On the other hand, Sensu is a highly scalable open-source monitoring solution that can be integrated with various tools and platforms, giving users more flexibility when it comes to monitoring their infrastructure.

2. Pricing Model: Azure Monitor follows a pricing model that is based on the amount of data ingested and the number of monitoring features used. This makes it convenient for users who want a pay-as-you-go approach. In contrast, Sensu offers a subscription-based pricing model, providing users with more predictable costs for their monitoring needs.

3. Alerting and Notification: Azure Monitor provides built-in alerting capabilities that can integrate with various notification channels, such as email, SMS, and Azure Logic Apps. It also supports custom alerting based on user-defined metrics, logs, and events. Sensu, on the other hand, relies on external tools for alerting and notification, giving users the flexibility to choose their preferred notification channels and third-party integrations.

4. Monitoring Capabilities: Azure Monitor offers a wide range of monitoring capabilities, including metrics monitoring, log analytics, application insights, and network monitoring. It provides a comprehensive view of the health and performance of the infrastructure. Sensu focuses primarily on infrastructure monitoring and offers extensibility through plugins, enabling users to monitor specific aspects of their environment.

5. Ease of Use: Azure Monitor provides a user-friendly interface and integrates seamlessly with other Azure services, making it convenient for users already utilizing the Azure ecosystem. Sensu, being an open-source solution, requires some technical expertise for setup and configuration, but provides users with more control and customization options.

6. Support and Documentation: Azure Monitor benefits from Microsoft's extensive support and documentation resources. It offers enterprise-grade support options and comprehensive documentation to assist users in troubleshooting and utilizing the service effectively. Sensu, being an open-source solution, relies on community support and documentation, which may not be as extensive or readily available as Azure Monitor.

**In Summary, Azure Monitor is a fully integrated monitoring service with scalable capabilities and deep integration with Azure services, while Sensu is an open-source solution that offers flexibility and extensibility in monitoring infrastructure.