What should be configured to monitor critical system events effectively?

Configuring SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) traps is an effective way to monitor critical system events because SNMP traps allow devices to proactively send alerts to a monitoring system when certain events occur. This means that network administrators can be instantly informed about important changes or issues without having to continuously poll devices for status updates.

By utilizing SNMP traps, organizations can quickly respond to critical events, ensuring that potential problems are addressed before they escalate into major incidents. This proactive approach enhances the overall monitoring efficiency, allowing for immediate awareness of the system's health and performance.

Other options, while beneficial in certain contexts, do not focus on the real-time monitoring of system events in the same way. User notifications can be useful, but they typically require user intervention and may not be sufficient for all situations. Automated reports can provide insights into events post-factum but do not offer the immediacy needed for critical events. Updating system firmware is important for security and performance enhancements, but does not directly monitor events or notify administrators of critical issues.