Authentication
Home > Ask the Windows Security Experts > Hardening Windows Questions & Answers > How do I track file access in Windows folders?
Ask The Windows Security Expert: Questions & Answers
EMAIL THIS

How do I track file access in Windows folders?

Jonathan Hassell EXPERT RESPONSE FROM: Jonathan Hassell

Pose a Question
Other Windows Security Categories
Meet all Windows Security Experts
Become an Expert for this site


Advice for securing Windows
Digg This!    StumbleUpon Toolbar StumbleUpon    Bookmark with Delicious Del.icio.us    Add to Google


>
QUESTION POSED ON: 30 January 2008
How do I track file access by users? I need to find out which users are accessing certain files in a specific folder.

>
EXPERT RESPONSE

This is relatively simple to accomplish if you use the auditing functionality of Windows XP and Windows Vista. To get started, open Control Panel, and then:

  1. Click Performance and Maintenance
  2. Click Administrative Tools
  3. Double-click Local Security Policy
  4. Expand Local Policies in the left pane and select Audit Policy
  5. Double-click Audit Object Access in the right pane
  6. Check the Success box
  7. Click OK

Now that you have enabled auditing, right click on the files and folders on which you want access audited and select Properties. Navigate to the Security tab, and click Advanced. Navigate to the Auditing tab, click Add and then enter the user or group whose access you want to research, and click OK. Then, select Successful for each of the actions you're interested in, and then click OK.


Sound Off! -   Post your comments |  See others' comments (1)


Digg This!    StumbleUpon Toolbar StumbleUpon    Bookmark with Delicious Del.icio.us    Add to Google


RELATED CONTENT
Hardening Windows
How to use Windows SBS to manage Internet security
How to manage network access for a Windows server
Set network user rights for Active Directory security
How to grant Microsoft Windows network permissions
Patch management and Windows Update aid in network setup
Intrusion prevention for Windows network security
How can I disable file transfer in MSN Messenger?
How can I recover lost files?
How do I bypass Windows Firewall to scan IP addresses?
How can I recover data after rebuilding my machine?

Authentication
Correct improperly assigned user rights in Windows XP
Password security in Windows XP Professional
Cool things about security, nothing about Britney Spears
Sharing files and folders in Windows XP
Reduce resistance to creating strong computer passwords
Crack the admin password in Windows XP
Looking ahead to life without passwords
Learning center: Remote access authentication
Troubleshooting your Windows-based VPN
Step-by-step guide: Elevating privileges for an administrator
Authentication Research

Authentication
Minasi talks Vista security, Windows Server 2008 features
Windows Resource Protection (WRP) protects critical system resources
The finer points of User Account Control (UAC) in Windows Vista
Windows Integrity Control (WIC) in Vista
Windows Vista security: Top 10 tips of 2007
Top Windows security testing tips of 2007
Cool things about security, nothing about Britney Spears
The ultimate Microsoft Vista tutorial on security
Vista BitLocker Drive Encryption tips
Reduce resistance to creating strong computer passwords

RELATED RESOURCES
2020software.com, trial software downloads for accounting software, ERP software, CRM software and business software systems
Search Bitpipe.com for the latest white papers and business webcasts
Whatis.com, the online computer dictionary



Search and Browse the Expert Answer Center
Search and browse more than 25,000 question and answer pairs from more than 250 TechTarget industry experts.
Browse our Expert Advice

HomeNewsTopicsITKnowledge ExchangeTipsAsk the ExpertsWebcastsWhite PapersIT DownloadsBlogs
About Us  |  Contact Us  |  For Advertisers  |  For Business Partners  |  Site Index  |  RSS
SEARCH 
TechTarget provides enterprise IT professionals with the information they need to perform their jobs - from developing strategy, to making cost-effective IT purchase decisions and managing their organizations' IT projects - with its network of technology-specific Web sites, events and magazines.

TechTarget Corporate Web Site  |  Media Kits  |  Reprints  |  Site Map




All Rights Reserved, Copyright 2004 - 2008, TechTarget | Read our Privacy Policy
  TechTarget - The IT Media ROI Experts