In a method for automatically configuring a System Management Station (SMS) to monitor a recently added computer to a network being monitored by the SMS, a message is received by the SMS. The message contains information about the IP-address, the operating system, and at least one application of the recently added computer. The SMS retrieves the information and registers the recently added computer, so that it will be monitored. After registering the computer, the SMS retrieves at least one relevant event detection criterion from a database and conveys it to the computer. After receiving the event criterion, the computer is automatically configured, so that it detects events according to the event detection criterion.