SM-SA helps maximize the availability of crucial services. It uses SS7 Data Broker to monitor the SS7 message traffic between network elements. Problems experienced by subscribers using the SMS are highlighted. SM-SA gathers data about the key procedures between your network elements in terms of volume and error rate. It does this for elements within the network, between networks by monitoring the international SCCP links, or it can monitor both. It displays this information in a variety of graphical forms, allowing you to quickly and easily identify problem areas. The displays are updated at the end of each measurement time interval to ensure that you have up-to-date information.

The measurement interval is configurable between five minutes and one hour. This means that SM-SA can be set up to give the optimum measurement time for your organization. The measurement interval is set for your organization when SM-SA is configured. The system highlights deviations from the expected behavior of the services as they happen, giving early warning of critical conditions. Problems can then be fixed before they lead to loss of revenue or subscribers.

In addition to monitoring the performance of the SMS system, you can use SM-SA for detailed investigation of problems and to make sure that efforts to fix problems have been successful. Two reports are available from SM-SA. One gives a summary of the total volume of successful and unsuccessful traffic, the other gives information about alarms.