---
title: "File and Folder Monitoring Software | FileAudit"
description: "FileAudit monitors file access in real time on Windows Servers and cloud storage. Powerful filters help pinpoint usage by IP address and machine name. "
locale: "en"
updated_at: "2025-09-17T07:04:46.929Z"
canonical: "https://www.isdecisions.com/en/fileaudit/features/file-and-folder-access-monitoring"
---

# File and folder access monitoring

Monitor live access to and usage of sensitive files and
folders stored on Windows servers and in cloud storage.

## Windows file server monitoring

Manually tracking file access (or access attempts) across Windows Servers and cloud storage is painful and takes time. FileAudit makes it easy to see what’s happening to your sensitive data, live.

#### Audited access events

See a comprehensive, centralized, and sortable list of access 
events (or access attempts) to paths you have selected.

- Read, write, delete, rename accesses
- Permission modifications
- File ownership changes
- File attributes changes

#### Record details

View key info about a file, selection of files, folder and subfolder or selection of folders and subfolders.

- File path
- Object type (file, folder)
- Status (granted or denied)
- Date and time of access
- User
- Domain
- Source IP address
- Machine name

## Exact file access tracking by IP address and machine name

Monitor exactly where in the network the user has accessed (or attempted to access) a file or folder from. For each access event, FileAudit displays both the specific machine (client) name and IP address to pinpoint the placement.

If an access is performed directly on the machine hosting the file/folder, **the name of the process** generating the access attempt is displayed.

Any specific IP address or machine name can also be **filtered on**, used as a **reporting criteria**, or chosen to **trigger an alert**.

**Granular detail** helps strengthen user identification and hold users accountable. Potentially risky file access events, like a user accessing a sensitive file from a different computer, are now easy to spot.

## Quickly get key insights into file activity

When monitoring file activity, simply click on any user, file, or folder to view all events from the past 4 weeks. See usage stats, deletions, and access denials.

## Save time with powerful filtering capabilities

Filter file access events by specific criteria to focus on the insights that matter. FileAudit helps you quickly find the answers you need, with minimal effort.

You can also print or export filtered views, and save filter configurations as XML files for easy reuse in future audits.

#### Server

Select a Windows or cloud server

#### Path

Choose events on files and/or folders

#### Access status

Granted and/or denied
access event

#### Access type

Select one or
many access events

#### Object type

Limit by file and/or folder

#### Domain

Filter by a specific
domain name

#### User/Group

Limit by a specific user or Active Directory group

#### Source

Select IP address, machine name or executable file name

## Cloud data storage monitoring

With FileAudit, extend file monitoring to track access to  major cloud-based file storage providers.

#### Get visibility into access to and usage of files stored on

- Microsoft OneDrive for Business
- Microsoft Teams
- SharePoint Online
- Google Drive
- Dropbox Business
- Box

## Improve the security of your hybrid IT environment

FileAudit offers a single view of all file activity to tie on-premises and cloud-based actions together. One tool and one consolidated dashboard to get the complete picture.

## Work smarter with real time monitoring

Real-time monitoring doesn't place unnecessary overhead on the server.

Native Windows auditing and other agent-less tools consume significant resources on the file servers. FileAudit's live monitoring doesn't impose additional storage requirements on the file server, helping avoid potential performance problems.

Once a path is set to audit, all access events are detected, displayed, and saved into a database in real-time.