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Azure Network Watcher pros and cons

Vendor: Microsoft
4.0 out of 5

Pros & Cons summary

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Prominent pros & cons

PROS

Azure Network Watcher provides good visibility and insight into network behavior and architecture.
It is stable and reliable for monitoring network services and device behavior.
The packet capture feature is noteworthy for tracking packet movement and connections.
The cloud-native application firewall provides essential security for databases and applications.
Azure Network Watcher effectively monitors network bandwidth, data flow, and helps control costs by analyzing traffic patterns.

CONS

Initial setup and deployment could be simplified and the initial learning curve could be improved.
There is a need for better built-in tools to minimize dependency on third-party applications like Wireshark for detailed network data analysis.
More open-source features and built-in applications for comprehensive monitoring and troubleshooting would enhance Azure Network Watcher.
Improved documentation and more accurate information capture are necessary to resolve issues efficiently.
Technical support from Microsoft requires significant improvement to match that of other vendors, and there are concerns regarding occasional downtimes related to Azure-specific issues.
 

Azure Network Watcher Pros review quotes

YS
Cloud Solution Architect at KlayyTech
Aug 9, 2021
It provides good visibility.
reviewer1641486 - PeerSpot reviewer
Sr IT Engineer / Manager at a tech company with 51-200 employees
Sep 1, 2021
The solution is stable.
Sami Esber - PeerSpot reviewer
Cyber Security Consultant at a engineering company with 10,001+ employees
Jul 21, 2022
The solution is good for monitoring device behavior.
Learn what your peers think about Azure Network Watcher. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: January 2026.
881,082 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Kondal Reddy - PeerSpot reviewer
Technical Lead at SNP
Nov 3, 2022
What I like most about Azure Network Watcher is that it's focused more on the architecture. I also like that it has a packet capture feature that tells you how the packet travels and whether it's exiting Azure, etc.
Madhukar N - PeerSpot reviewer
Sr. Azure DevOps Cloud Engineer at a pharma/biotech company with 10,001+ employees
Nov 4, 2022
The most valuable feature of Azure Network Watcher is the cloud-native application firewall. It is helpful for securing databases.
Ben AmaraSeif Alah - PeerSpot reviewer
Cloud Architect Azure at Thales
Nov 23, 2022
The most valuable features I have found are typology, visualization, and capture.
reviewer2068839 - PeerSpot reviewer
Sr Devops Engineer at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees
Jan 10, 2023
The most valuable feature of Azure Network Watcher is using the gateways with the connections. The monitoring is useful for the logs and application insights into the data. The traffic filtering issues when it comes to deploying those applications are helpful.
VV
Cloud solution architect at a consultancy with 10,001+ employees
Jul 18, 2023
We use the solution to monitor network services. It helps to capture any network issues.
RM
System Network Engineer at Kitana Media
Nov 7, 2023
I like the visibility.
Adolfo Albanell - PeerSpot reviewer
Owner at ICAL S.A.
Jun 6, 2024
The stability is very good. I rate it a ten out of ten.
 

Azure Network Watcher Cons review quotes

YS
Cloud Solution Architect at KlayyTech
Aug 9, 2021
The initial setup and deployment could be improved to be simplified.
reviewer1641486 - PeerSpot reviewer
Sr IT Engineer / Manager at a tech company with 51-200 employees
Sep 1, 2021
Azure is good, however, the Fortinet GUI is more intuitive and I like it more than anything else.
Sami Esber - PeerSpot reviewer
Cyber Security Consultant at a engineering company with 10,001+ employees
Jul 21, 2022
Lacks sufficient security features.
Learn what your peers think about Azure Network Watcher. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: January 2026.
881,082 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Kondal Reddy - PeerSpot reviewer
Technical Lead at SNP
Nov 3, 2022
I still use Wireshark and Azure Network Watcher to get the required data. My team captures the traffic from Azure Network Watcher, downloads it, then imports that traffic into Wireshark to get more details on the number of hits and replies, for example. If you can do that on Azure Network Watcher and have Wireshark built-in, that would make Azure Network Watcher better. If Azure Network Watcher has that functionality where you won't need a third-party tool to get what you need, that would be helpful. I'm also expecting more from Azure Network Watcher. It's more complex than knowing how the IP flows from its source to the destination. The tool also needs more open-source features, such as having some built-in Wireshark that improves monitoring for customers. Sometimes, you encounter a VPN tunnel, network, or routing issue, but finding out more about the blockage is challenging. Is it one hundred percent an Azure issue? Is it a peer issue? You don't get complete information from Azure Network Watcher, so you must use other tools and depend on your strategies to resolve a specific issue. If more features could be added in the next release of Azure Network Watcher, specifically ones you can find on open-source tools, then that would be a plus point for the tool.
Madhukar N - PeerSpot reviewer
Sr. Azure DevOps Cloud Engineer at a pharma/biotech company with 10,001+ employees
Nov 4, 2022
Azure Network Watcher could improve by having other built-in applications. For example, an application to log activities for in and outbound traffic.
Ben AmaraSeif Alah - PeerSpot reviewer
Cloud Architect Azure at Thales
Nov 23, 2022
I would like to see in the future if we can troubleshoot as a firewall because it is equipment as a network player and some diagnostics.
reviewer2068839 - PeerSpot reviewer
Sr Devops Engineer at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees
Jan 10, 2023
The solution could improve by limiting the need to clarify the logs. When the clarification is minimized, it is better for everyone involved.
VV
Cloud solution architect at a consultancy with 10,001+ employees
Jul 18, 2023
Azure Network Watcher needs to have better documentation and it needs to capture information accurately.
RM
System Network Engineer at Kitana Media
Nov 7, 2023
The initial setup and initial learning curve could be improved to be easier.
Adolfo Albanell - PeerSpot reviewer
Owner at ICAL S.A.
Jun 6, 2024
User experience could be improved.