Windows File Server Auditing

File server auditing provides insight into your file server authorization settings and access history. Auditing often involves running reports on specific aspects of file server usage, which can give you visibility into who accessed what, when access occurred, and even where access originated.

File server auditing is all about ensuring visibility into configurations and activity. This can be achieved on a rolling basis by leveraging dashboard-based visual displays or alerts, but more typically is achieved by running definitive audits to create reports around specific timeframes and data.

By running reports or checking an automated dashboard, you can proactively ensure your file access security settings are appropriate for your organization. This can help prevent potential problems in the future. If sudden permission changes occur or files are unexpectedly deleted or renamed, you should be notified of those changes.

Auditing might also be necessary after an incident occurs. Improper access—whether by internal or external users—is a cause for concern, especially if sensitive data has been accessed, erased, or shared outside your organization. To better understand if a compliance breach has occurred, your best bet is to run an automated, comprehensive report.

File server auditing is important because it gives you visibility into how end users can access files and folders. If someone has viewed or altered sensitive data, auditing provides insight into the activity. As such, file server auditing can help you ensure your organization remains compliant with critical regulations like HIPAA or PCI DSS.

File servers provide centralized storage for organizations, which allows users to exercise tighter control over company data. However, if configuration settings are not handled correctly—or if bad actors gain access to a user account with a high level of permissions—improper activity can occur.

Windows file auditing software is an automated tool to help solve common problems associated with manual file auditing. The software integrates with multiple Windows file servers, Active Directory, and other relevant programs to provide you with insight into user activity and data security.

File auditing software helps you digest the event logs generated by file server activity. Windows event files can lack context, but file auditing software can help unify your view. You may need to look at Windows event logs from across Active Directory, SQL Server, SharePoint, and other Windows file servers.

Using Windows file auditing software helps ensure rapid risk mitigation. With a server audit tool, you can configure accurate real-time alerts to ensure your business’ files and folders remain secure.

SolarWinds Access Rights Manager offers the critical file server auditing tools you need to gain comprehensive visibility into your Windows file servers.

Gain insight into files and folders, AD objects like Users and Groups, and more. You can also get detailed summaries of file server objects and permissions for defined time periods. For instance, ARM can log activities within Active Directory and multiple file servers according to the end user.

Activity event logs and user configuration data is available in ARM’s dashboard, where critical changes can trigger security alerts. You can use these alerts to gain instant insight into security threats like successful and failed access attempts.

Related Tools: SolarWinds Security Event Manager SolarWinds Access Right Manager SolarWinds Identity Monitor

Related Features: Active Directory Auditing Tool Streamline IT Security Audits Exchange Auditing Software Automated Audit Management Software SharePoint Audit Tool