When it comes to systems management, network management and fortifying the security of IT infrastructures, most administrators would agree that the easiest way to become a miracle maker is to have the right automated tools at one’s fingertips, with none perhaps as important as log management and analysis tools. There are many different flavors of applications within the category, but the unifying theme is that they allow a beleaguered staffer to sift through mountians of log data to turn it into actionable information.

The following is a list of ten free applications that every IT manager should know about.