Apparent Networks, a leading provider of network fault and performance management solutions, today announced the availability of Version 4 of AppCritical, its enterprise platform for network performance management. The company also announced the AppCritical Report Server, a new add-on module for advanced reporting that works in conjunction with AppCritical Version 4.

AppCritical Version 4’s main new features include significant upgrades to its built-in analysis and reporting capabilities to meet the need for network performance information in large enterprises and service provider companies.

The new Report Server module enables IT teams to show their alignment with and contribution to their organization’s strategic business initiatives. Report Server leverages AppCritical’s unique network path performance information to create reports that communicate IT’s value – powerfully and persuasively – to any audience, including executive, business and technical staff.

“Enterprises and service providers alike are looking to virtualization and cloud computing to improve their IT effectiveness without increasing their costs. But many IT leaders we speak with say that network management challenges are slowing down their cloud and virtualization initiatives,” said Jim Melvin, President and CMO of Apparent Networks. “AppCritical 4 with Report Server clears away those roadblocks. It shows end-to-end network path performance- including complete visibility into virtualized environments and cloud-based resources. Customers get the detailed performance information they need to accelerate their cloud and virtualization initiatives in manageable and predictable ways.”

“The increasing adoption of cloud computing and distributed applications is driving significant increases in customer demand for solutions that help their IT teams manage the complex networks that are required to run these applications,” said Olga Yashkova, Industry Analyst with Frost & Sullivan’s Test & Measurement practice. “Furthermore, most of these applications are latency intolerant, so service quality management will be critical to their success with end users. Solutions like AppCritical are well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for more complete and effective performance management.”