Auvik vs Datadog Infrastructure

Datadog can partially replace Auvik — it includes SNMP monitoring via integration for network devices. However, Datadog lacks Auvik's automatic topology mapping, device config backup, PSA integrations, and white-label MSP portal. For organizations where these network-specific features are critical, Datadog is not a full replacement for Auvik.

Auvik has basic AWS and Azure monitoring, primarily for cloud-hosted network devices and simple connectivity checks. It does not monitor cloud workloads, containers, serverless functions, or application performance the way Datadog does. For organizations with significant cloud infrastructure, Auvik is insufficient as a standalone cloud monitoring solution.

For MSPs managing many client networks, Auvik's $150–$250/device/year pricing is typically justified by the operational time saved — automatic topology maps, config backup, and PSA integration reduce manual work significantly. For non-MSP organizations with fewer than 30 network devices, tools like Checkmk (free) or PRTG (lower cost) may provide better value.

No. Datadog Network Performance Monitoring (NPM) tracks traffic flows between hosts and services, but does not generate physical network topology diagrams. Network device topology mapping is specific to tools like Auvik, PRTG, and SolarWinds. If network topology visualization is a requirement, Datadog is not the right tool.

No. Auvik focuses on network device monitoring — switches, routers, firewalls, and access points. Application performance monitoring (APM), distributed tracing, and application-level metrics are outside Auvik's scope. Organizations that need APM alongside network monitoring use Datadog, Dynatrace, or New Relic for the application layer.

Auvik is significantly better for MSPs. Its purpose-built MSP portal, per-device billing that maps to client invoicing, PSA integrations (ConnectWise, Autotask, Halo PSA), and white-label client access are designed for MSP workflows. Datadog requires extensive custom configuration to achieve similar MSP functionality and lacks native PSA integrations.

Yes, and many organizations run both. Auvik handles network device monitoring (switches, routers, firewalls), while Datadog handles server and cloud infrastructure. Both send alerts to the same channels (Slack, PagerDuty) and can feed into the same PSA. Auvik's network visibility complements Datadog's host and application visibility in hybrid environments.

Auvik charges per network device ($150–$250/year) and Datadog charges per host ($15–$23/month). For 50 network devices: Auvik Performance ~$12,500/yr vs Datadog Pro for 50 hosts ~$9,000/yr. However, they monitor different things — Auvik counts switches/routers, Datadog counts compute hosts. Total cost depends on infrastructure mix.

Yes. Auvik Performance tier includes automatic configuration backup for network devices (routers, switches, firewalls). Configurations are backed up at regular intervals, and changes between backups are highlighted for change tracking. This is a specific feature MSPs value for disaster recovery and network change auditing. Datadog does not include device config backup.

The Auvik collector is a lightweight software agent installed on a Windows or Linux machine at each monitored network site. It communicates with devices on the local network via SNMP, ping, and CDP/LLDP, then reports data to Auvik's cloud. Most sites use a virtual machine or NUC-class device as the collector. Unlike PRTG, the Auvik collector does not require a full PRTG server — it is a lightweight agent that the cloud manages.