Abstract: A database monitoring system that resides external to the data to be monitored. The system uses metadata to describe specific information contained in the data, or in a related external system. The system monitors for the occurrence of predetermined conditions or events on a scheduled basis. Upon occurrence of the event, the system takes specific action which can include the creation of a formatted report, containing extracts from the database, which can be sent to a one or more destinations including via email to recipients determined based on data included on the report or recipients with a pre-defined relationship to the data included on the report.