Netwrix Auditor for Windows File Servers

Q: What is file server auditing software?

File server auditing software tracks who accessed, changed, or deleted files and folders on your Windows file servers, with before-and-after detail on content and permissions. Netwrix Auditor turns that activity into searchable reports and real-time alerts, so you always know what happened and who did it.

Q: Can Netwrix simplify Windows file compliance audits?

Yes. With automated reports, Netwrix Auditor streamlines Windows file compliance audit preparation. Prebuilt templates aligned with SOX, HIPAA, PCI DSS, and GDPR prove strong access controls and reduce the manual audit workload.

Q: How is Netwrix Auditor different from native Windows file auditing?

Native Windows event logs pile up fast and rarely show the before-and-after context you need for a permission change. Netwrix Auditor filters that noise and presents file activity in plain-language reports you can search across every monitored server, without reading raw event IDs.

Q: Can file server auditing software detect ransomware or insider threats?

Yes. Netwrix Auditor watches for the patterns that signal ransomware or insider threats, such as mass file encryption, sudden spikes in modifications, or repeated failed access attempts, and alerts your team so you can respond before damage spreads.

File server auditing software that shows who did what to your files

Your file servers hold your most critical data. Run Windows File auditing to monitor every access attempt and modification, review permissions, and defend against break-ins.

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Gloucestershire hospitals nhs foundation trust

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Why Netwrix?

An in-depth Windows File server auditing tool that stops threats before they spread

Minimize risks to sensitive data

Know the sensitive data stored on your file servers, where that data is located, who has access rights to it, and how it’s being used.

Enhance IT team efficiency and simplify compliance

Streamline audit preparation with built-in reports mapped to many common mandates, and quickly answer ad-hoc questions from auditors.

Allow data owner-driven permission reviews

Let data owners conduct access reviews and approve permissions, ensuring accurate decisions while reducing IT burden.

Enable early ransomware detection

Catch mass file encryption attempts and suspicious bulk modifications before ransomware devastates your infrastructure.

71% can't say who has access to a file right now

That's what Netwrix found when it asked more than 2,300 security and IT leaders in its 2026 Data and Identity Security Report.

Access visibility

71%

of organizations can't immediately determine which identities have access to a specific piece of sensitive data. Most need hours across multiple tools; some can't determine it at all.

Root cause

72%

of organizations trace sensitive-data exposure back to excessive permissions or a lack of access visibility, the two things file server auditing fixes.

Incident pattern

34%

of unauthorized-access incidents start with misconfigured permissions, the second most common cause after compromised credentials. See the full findings in the 2026 Data and Identity Security Report.

Capabilities

Windows file server auditing software with the intelligence you need to defend against sophisticated file-based attacks

File access monitoring

Auditing of risky changes

Permission visibility

Risk assessment

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"Netwrix Auditor is one of the best tools I have ever had. It gives us complete visibility into our infrastructure and admin activities in all covered systems… while decreasing the time spent on reporting by 90%."

Predrag Škundrić

CISO, API Bank

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"Auditor is easy to install, administer and use. It does what it needs to and basically once set up just runs without issue..."

IT Assistant Manager, Healthcare and Biotech

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"Netwrix Auditor enables us to monitor user activity and make sure that Active Directory, which is a backbone system, is treated with respect. This definitely brings us peace of mind — whatever happens, we can always go to Netwrix Auditor and quickly run an investigation."

Joanna Murphy

Systems Engineer, Christchurch Airport

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"Netwrix Auditor has been one of the most cost-efficient security solutions we’ve ever invested in. It’s giving me visibility into insider threats, ransomware and brute-force attacks — all in one product suite, so I don’t have to invest in multiple solutions."

John Chow

CIO, Rancho Mission Viejo

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"I have used many products in my career and I am glad to say that Netwrix Auditor works as advertised right out of the box."

Andrew Shotwell

Senior Vice President, Bank of Botetourt

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"Software works great and I would recommend this to anyone. We use it for PCI Compliance."

Senior Network Administrator, Retail

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