A method of and apparatus for monitoring a computer system includes defining a monitoring policy for the computer system. At least one computer is employed to determine a status of a state of the computer system relative to the monitoring policy. At least one computer is employed to determine a condition of at least one monitored element to be monitored in the computer system based on the status of the state of the computer system. Furthermore, at least one computer is employed to monitor the condition of the at least one monitored element in the computer system, based on the monitoring policy. At least one computer is employed to perform an action in response to the condition assuming a predetermined status.