Observer GigaStor vs SCOM comparison

Viavi Solutions and Microsoft are both solutions in the Network Monitoring Software category. Viavi Solutions is ranked #83, while Microsoft is ranked #14 with an average rating of 8.0. Viavi Solutions holds a 0.5% mindshare in NMS, compared to Microsoft’s 1.5% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Viavi Solutions users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 86% of Microsoft users who would recommend it.

Observer GigaStor

Read 7 Observer GigaStor reviews

2,083 Views
1,312 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

SCOM

Read 83 SCOM reviews

8,966 Views
6,007 Comparison Views

86% willing to recommend

Observer GigaStor

SCOM

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Download the report

Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 10, 2024

SCOM and Observer GigaStor are competing products in network and system monitoring. SCOM often seems to have the upper hand due to better pricing and support, while Observer GigaStor's advanced features justify its higher investment for some businesses.

Features: SCOM provides robust monitoring capabilities, infrastructure health, application performance, and predictive analytics, which are advantageous for proactive management. Observer GigaStor offers deep packet inspection and forensic data replay, ideal for detailed network examination. SCOM is suitable for organizations needing broad system insights, whereas Observer GigaStor is aimed at in-depth network analysis.

Room for Improvement: SCOM could enhance its network traffic analysis features, provide more detailed instructional support, and improve integration with non-Microsoft environments. Observer GigaStor could lower its upfront costs, simplify its deployment process, and enhance its interface for ease of use. These improvements could broaden their appeal across diverse organizational needs.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: SCOM's deployment is typically less complex, providing seamless integration with Microsoft environments, and it offers adequate support. Observer GigaStor deployment can be intricate due to its specialized hardware requirements, though it excels in offering detailed instructional support. SCOM is easier to deploy in environments relying on Microsoft technologies, while Observer GigaStor demands more setup but offers extensive guidance for deployment and troubleshooting.

Pricing and ROI: SCOM presents a lower initial setup cost and secures value through integrated Microsoft services, resulting in a faster ROI for companies with existing Microsoft ecosystems. Observer GigaStor involves a higher upfront investment due to specialized hardware and focuses on long-term value through its analytic capabilities. SCOM offers a cost-effective entry point, whereas Observer GigaStor aims for high-value returns on more specialized network data analysis.

To learn more, read our detailed Observer GigaStor vs. SCOM Report (Updated: April 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Observer GigaStor vs. SCOM

April 2026

Download the complete report

Helped 894,738 peers since 2012

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Observer GigaStor

Ranking in Network Monitoring Software

83rd

Average Rating

9.0

Reviews Sentiment

8.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Network Troubleshooting (13th), Network Packet Broker (NPB) (8th)

SCOM

Ranking in Network Monitoring Software

14th

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Event Monitoring (3rd)

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2026, in the Network Monitoring Software category, the mindshare of Observer GigaStor is 0.5%, up from 0.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SCOM is 1.5%, down from 1.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Monitoring Software Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
SCOM	1.5%
Observer GigaStor	0.5%
Other	98.0%

Network Monitoring Software

Featured Reviews

Jeroen-Dubbelman

Director at Bitrate

Aids significantly in the threat-hunting process and provides a score-based evaluation of user experience

There are many valuable features, but understanding end-user response times stands out. It provides a score-based evaluation of user experience, helping customers quickly pinpoint whether issues originate from the network, server, client, or application. Additionally, it facilitates in-depth analysis of application dependencies. The retrospective network analysis capability of Observer GigaStor has been beneficial. It's a pivotal feature for network performance solutions. However, I prefer to consider the entire solution suite - GigaStor, along with GigaFlow and Apex - for comprehensive network visibility and monitoring. So, I prefer to integrate all three solutions to provide the best visibility. They complement each other well, with Apex aggregating and correlating data from both GigaStor and GigaFlow to enhance environmental understanding and troubleshooting efficiency.

Read full review

Akshita Kukreja

Assistant Manager at SMS group GmbH

Have integrated effective monitoring and seamless alerting with improved visualization capabilities

The most valuable feature of SCOM is its monitoring capability, and we have integrated SCOM with Grafana, which is a dashboarding tool. We have implemented and integrated this to create dashboarding of the SCOM monitoring system for the database, SQL, and the Linux servers we have configured in SCOM. We have created separate dashboarding for it, and the monitoring and creating rules and monitors in the management servers and management packs that SCOM provides are very useful for us. The alerting mechanism of SCOM has benefited our operations because we have modified the thresholds as per our internal requirements. We have configured threshold modifications for the CPU, memory, and especially for disk space. For routine disk space usage on the system, we have provided a separate threshold configuration.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"This solution allows us to see exactly what is going on in the network and we can very quickly solve issues with users."

"Enables us to go back in time to capture an issue and analyze it for a solution, and this after the fact analysis is key to overcoming the bump in the night issues."

"It's able to capture packets and, after a long time, you can come and use that information; to check, to analyze - everything you would want to do. So it's very good and helpful if you want to protect your data. It is stored in a certain place where you can access it every time you want to analyze it."

"I have no regrets using this product, I am very satisfied for what I paid for it and for the things I am able to do with the product."

"There are many valuable features, but understanding end-user response times stands out. It provides a score-based evaluation of user experience, helping customers quickly pinpoint whether issues originate from the network, server, client, or application. Additionally, it facilitates in-depth analysis of application dependencies."

"It can help to write your rules, organize firewalls, your block, and also your protocols and IP address to come in or out of your network."

"Industry-leading line rates, packet-capture technology and data-mining capabilities are the most valuable features."

More Observer GigaStor pros

"SCOM has helped us to reduce the time taken to address the issue and identify the false alerts triggered in an efficient manner."

"The dashboard is in a class of its own, with a whole other range of competing products in management of datacenters and cloud environment."

"Alerts notify the server or service owner of problems, allowing quick decisions or actions to keep the service running based on configured thresholds."

"The most valuable feature is the extensibility, as there are really no limits as to what you can do with it."

"Availability monitoring is the feature I have found most valuable, as well as the capacity and ability to send notifications."

"The System Center 2012 R2 is really powerful, all products work great together, is not so expensive anymore, easy to license, and can cover from end to end (Networking, Hardware layer, OS, App and services, ports, etc.)."

"Proactive monitoring has helped us prepare and mitigate potential issues before they even happen."

"SCOM is a very powerful tool if deployed and eventually maintained correctly."

More SCOM pros

Cons

"Maybe the graphical user interface could be simplified to allow people to use it more easily."

"There are some issues, in our environment that puts processing restraints on the Gigastor when turning on trending data to be sent to APEX."

"As of this moment, the graphics might need some improvement, because a lot of the information there must be input first to have full potential."

"I would like to have more than 4TB of storage available in the portable version of this solution."

"GigaStor feeds into Apex. So, the area where there could be improvement would be in artificial intelligence. For example, the incorporation of more advanced machine learning or AI capabilities could enhance its functionality."

"Graphics need improvement. Because a lot of the information there you have to input first in some case to have full potential. It could be more automated."

"The Observer Console UI is consistent and stable, but could use some updating to be more modern."

"The interface is pretty complex, so for the average user, it takes a while to get up to speed with it. I would like it to be more user-friendly."

More Observer GigaStor cons

"There are some negative points about this product. Sometimes, the capabilities of the software don't appear, and you can't directly see the results."

"It could use some system enhancements, such as better dashboards."

"On-prem network monitoring is something that could be improved drastically."

"Dashboarding and application performance management."

"I find this product very clunky and not very intuitive to use, it took me a while to find my way around and understand where I needed to go to configure or even get a report is a bit complicated."

"Super high cost for the 2012 version due to change to a CPU based."

"Non Windows monitoring is fairly weak. Network device monitoring is not reliable."

"Almost always, these alert storms can put IT managers and operators off the product and give the impression that everything is broken or not working properly, so making them easier to work with will help SCOM administrators (especially if they are new to SCOM) manage and understand what the product is showing them."

More SCOM cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It's quite expensive."

"It depends on the requirements you have. There are three types of license. There's the updates license, the work group license, and the workstation license."

"The platform is cost-effective due to our existing Microsoft support."

"We have an EA with Microsoft, and it comes as part of the EA."

"SCOM's pricing is average."

"SCOM is very cheap because it's included in the license for the System Center suite, which is around $8,400 per CAL."

"I don't know the exact cost because it's managed by our sales team, but Microsoft is on the higher side."

"Two customers bought the enterprise agreement with Microsoft and paid for Software Assurance. But few customers don't buy it for Software Assurance. They just buy it and deploy it, and they think that we will be using it for the next five years."

"Our Enterprise Agreement includes the price."

"It is the cheapest product available in the market."

More SCOM pricing and cost advice

See which vendors are best for you

Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Network Monitoring Software solutions are best for your needs.

See recommendations

894,738 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Construction Company

19%

Financial Services Firm

15%

Government

Healthcare Company

Financial Services Firm

14%

Government

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	5
Large Enterprise	3

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	16
Midsize Enterprise	22
Large Enterprise	54

Questions from the Community

Ask a question

Earn 20 points

What do you like most about SCOM?

The tool helps to monitor Windows servers. It offers alerts from a central location.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SCOM?

I am not aware of the exact pricing as it is managed by my supervisor. As an academic institution, we receive substantial discounts.

See all answers

What needs improvement with SCOM?

We believe that the dashboarding in SCOM needs to be improved or enhanced because it is not too expressive in reporting. We can work on deploying new ways of viewing things and modifying visualizat...

See all answers

Comparisons

Wireshark vs Observer GigaStor

Compared 14% of the time

Gigamon Deep Observability Pipeline vs Observer GigaStor

Compared 8% of the time

IxChariot vs Observer GigaStor

Compared 7% of the time

Viavi Observer Platform vs Observer GigaStor

Compared 6% of the time

SolarWinds NPM vs Observer GigaStor

Compared 6% of the time

More Observer GigaStor Competitors

Nagios XI vs SCOM

Compared 6% of the time

WhatsUp Gold vs SCOM

Compared 6% of the time

Zabbix vs SCOM

Compared 5% of the time

PRTG Network Monitor vs SCOM

Compared 5% of the time

LogicMonitor vs SCOM

Compared 5% of the time

More SCOM Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Observer GigaStor

April 2026

Download Observer GigaStor product report

Buyer's Guide

SCOM

April 2026

Download SCOM product report

Also Known As

No data available

System Center Operations Manager, SCOM 2012

Overview

Observer GigaStor provides detailed network visibility and data capture for efficient troubleshooting and analysis. It's a robust tool designed to manage today’s complex network environments, offering reliability and performance insights.

Observer GigaStor specializes in long-term network traffic capture, delivering comprehensive forensic analysis capabilities. It stands as a trusted resource for IT departments aiming to resolve network performance issues swiftly. By capturing and storing packets with high precision, it aids in identifying both current and past anomalies, ensuring network health and performance continuity through proactive monitoring.

What are the key features of Observer GigaStor?

Long-term Data Capture: Enables storage of vast amounts of data for extensive historical analysis.
Comprehensive Protocol Support: Offers support for diverse protocols, enhancing troubleshooting accuracy.
Retrospective Analysis: Provides the ability to trace issues back to their origin point, improving issue resolution speed.
Scalability: Adapts to network growth without sacrificing performance capabilities.

What benefits and ROI can be expected from reviews?

Increased Troubleshooting Efficiency: Provides quicker resolution times, reducing network downtime.
Enhanced Network Visibility: Improves understanding of network performance and traffic patterns.
Reduced Operational Costs: Limits the need for manual troubleshooting, saving on labor costs.
Improved Decision Making: Data insights aid in strategic planning for infrastructure improvements.

Observer GigaStor's implementation spans across various industries, from telecommunications to finance, where maintaining robust and secure network performance is crucial. Its ability to analyze and retrieve historical network data supports compliance and operational stability demands in these sectors.

Viavi Solutions

SCOM monitors Microsoft environments with a focus on Windows servers and applications such as SQL, Exchange, and SharePoint. It offers integration with Active Directory and Azure, along with customizable dashboards, management packs, and robust alert mechanisms, aiding efficient management and control.

SCOM provides a comprehensive monitoring solution for Microsoft technologies, helping organizations track performance and availability of applications, services, and infrastructure. It integrates with Active Directory and Azure, offering capabilities for monitoring Windows and Linux environments. Extensive management packs, customizable dashboards, and automated alerts offer a refined monitoring experience. Users benefit from detailed performance data, network monitoring, and auto-discovery features, enhancing operational insights and server management efficiency.

What are key features of SCOM?

Microsoft Environment Monitoring: Specialized for Windows servers and applications such as SQL, Exchange, and SharePoint.
Integration Capabilities: Seamless integration with Active Directory and Azure for streamlined operations.
Customizable Dashboards: Tailor visual data displays to enhance monitoring and decision-making.
Extensive Management Packs: Broad range of management packs for enhanced resource and application control.
Robust Alert Mechanisms: Comprehensive alerting to maintain service stability and address potential issues promptly.

What benefits should users seek in reviews?

Operational Efficiency: Enhanced management of server applications and infrastructure.
Comprehensive Monitoring: Detailed insights into performance and service availability.
Proactive Issue Notification: Timely alerts for quick issue resolution.
Improved Control: More efficient server management through automation and visibility.

In technology sectors, SCOM is widely implemented for its ability to monitor server applications and infrastructure components. Healthcare and finance utilize its monitoring and alert systems for compliance and uptime. Enterprises integrate SCOM for managing complex systems like Exchange, SharePoint, and Active Directory, enabling comprehensive analytics and reporting.

Microsoft

Sample Customers

Cisco Systems, Hawaiian Telecom, Renown Health, State of Nevada, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Allstate Insurance, Jack Henry & Associates, United States Airforce, US Bank, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Chicago Board Options Exchange

Dialog Telekom

Buyer's Guide

Observer GigaStor vs. SCOM

April 2026

Free Report: Observer GigaStor vs. SCOM

Find out what your peers are saying about Observer GigaStor vs. SCOM and other solutions. Updated: April 2026.

DOWNLOAD NOW

894,738 professionals have used our research since 2012.

See our Observer GigaStor vs. SCOM report.

See our list of best Network Monitoring Software vendors.

We monitor all Network Monitoring Software reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.