Windows services are the unsung heroes of Windows machines. This is because they act as critical components of the Windows operating system that run in the background to keep your computer running smoothly and securely. They are responsible for a wide array of tasks, including system startup and shutdown, security, performance, and application support. Windows services stay behind the scenes, needing little interaction with us as users, but their importance in ensuring the proper functioning of your computer can’t be understated.
What are the functions of Windows services?
Windows services can be categorized into four categories: system services, security services, performance services, and application support services.
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System services ensure that the Windows operating system stays running undisrupted at the optimal performance level.
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Security services help safeguard the Windows operating system from malware and other security threats. This is fulfilled through services like Windows Firewall, Windows Defender, and Windows Update.
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Performance services help maintain the performance and stability of the Windows operating system. Such services include Performance Monitor, Windows Error Reporting, and Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI).
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Application support services provide support for essential Windows applications, such as the web browser, File Explorer, and networking services.
What happens when Windows services stop running?
Sudden stoppages of Windows services can affect the normal operations of the Windows operating system. The impact of a disruption varies according to the type of Windows service that went down and the area it serves.
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Stoppages of system services can cause the operating system to become unstable or to crash.
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Failures of security services can leave the Windows operating system vulnerable to malware and other security threats. This is because such failures directly affect the running of Windows Defender and Windows Firewall, leaving the door open for unauthorized access, viruses, and malware attacks.
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Stoppages of performance services can cause the Windows operating system to perform slowly and experience stability issues.
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Stoppages of application support services can cause the corresponding applications to crash or not work properly.
Seen from the bigger picture of an organization, a Windows service outage within a network can disrupt application performance and security to such a degree that it can affect the business outcomes themselves. This is why monitoring Windows services at an organization’s network level is crucial.
Ensure your network’s service quality is at its best with OpManager’s powerful Windows service monitoring features
OpManager provides a comprehensive, easy-to-use Windows service monitoring solution, leveraging WMI for agentless monitoring and saving IT admins time and resources. OpManager quickly identifies and notifies you of service failures. Having the ability to implement an automated troubleshooting process helps you achieve a proactive approach.
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Agentless monitoring using WMI: OpManager monitors Windows services locally or across multiple servers without requiring an agent on each remote machine.
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Fault identification and alarm dissemination: OpManager notifies you instantly when any Windows service goes down, generating alerts that can be delivered via email, SMS, or Slack notifications.
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Automated troubleshooting with workflows: OpManager automates the troubleshooting process without any manual intervention, such as restarting the Windows service or rebooting the server.
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Out-of-the-box monitoring: OpManager supports the monitoring of system-level services and Windows services by default, including HTTP, LDAP, SMTP, DHCP, DNS, Active Directory, Exchange Server, SQL Server, IIS, MySQL, Oracle, and VMware.
OpManager is a part of ManageEngine’s ITOM suite of solutions. Apart from network monitoring, this suite also offers solutions for streamlining server monitoring, application monitoring, bandwidth monitoring, configuration management, firewall security and compliance, and IP address and switch port management. This is why ManageEngine’s ITOM solutions are the ideal choice for over one million IT admins worldwide.
Evaluate if OpManager fits your requirements by downloading a free, 30-day trial. Schedule a demo with our experts for a technical walk-through and get a price quote.
Visit our extensive set of pages to take a deeper dive into Windows services monitoring and everything beyond that OpManager has to offer.
