A system is disclosed that automatically translates a threshold into a raw threshold value, and, when a data violation is generated when the raw threshold value is violated based on a measured data value generated by one of a plurality of heterogeneous network elements, automatically translates the data violation into a threshold violation. In an embodiment, the system automatically monitors the selected heterogeneous network element for the measured data value. In an embodiment, the system selects one of the plurality of heterogeneous network elements, and automatically configures the threshold. In an embodiment, the system automatically accesses information regarding the selected heterogeneous network element from a database. In an embodiment, the system automatically distributes the threshold violation. In an embodiment, the system automatically publishes the threshold violation to a publish/subscribe system, and automatically makes the published threshold violation available to a subscriber.