Choosing the right auditing logs in Microsoft 365 for your business

Auditing in Microsoft 365 is a critical feature that enables organizations to track user and admin activities, ensuring compliance and enhancing security. Below, we delve into the different types of auditing available in Microsoft 365 and guide you in selecting the one that best suits your organization's needs.

Types of Auditing in Microsoft 365

Unified Audit Log

The Unified Audit Log is a comprehensive logging mechanism that records various activities across Microsoft 365 services. This includes actions in Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, OneDrive for Business, Azure Active Directory, and Microsoft Teams. It provides a centralized location for searching and analyzing user and admin activities.

Key Features:

• Centralized logging for multiple services.
• Searchable via the Security & Compliance Center or the Office 365 Management Activity API.
• Capability to export logs for further analysis.
• Retention period varies according to subscription type (generally 90 days but can be extended).

Mailbox Audit Logging

Mailbox Audit Logging specifically tracks actions related to mailboxes in Exchange Online. It records activities such as email access, deletions, and mailbox permissions changes.

Key Features:

• Tracks actions by mailbox owners, delegates, and administrators.
• Logs actions like logins, sending, deletion, moving, and accessing emails.
• Retention of logs varies (default is 90 days, extendable).
• Accessible via the Microsoft 365 Security & Compliance Center or PowerShell.

Azure Active Directory (AAD) Audit Logs

AAD Audit Logs capture activity within Azure Active Directory. These logs are invaluable for tracking changes to directory data, such as user and group management activities, and application activities.

Key Features:

• Monitors changes to users, groups, roles, directory schema, and applications.
• Helps in identifying security risks by tracking user sign-ins and sign-out activities.
• Integrates with Azure Monitor, which allows for advanced monitoring and alerts.
• Log retention is 30 days by default but can be extended with Azure AD Premium P1 or P2 licenses.

Power BI Audit Logs

Power BI Audit Logs monitor usage and activities within the Power BI service. This includes tracking dashboard views, sharing activities, data export, and report generation.

Key Features:

• Provides insights into user interactions with Power BI reports and dashboards.
• Helps ensure data security and compliance with organizational policies.
• Logs can be accessed through the Office 365 Security & Compliance Center.
• Log retention is typically 90 days.

Teams Audit Logs

Teams Audit Logs capture activities within Microsoft Teams, including user and admin actions such as team creation, message posting, and membership changes.

Key Features:

• Tracks key actions like team creation, channel activities, messaging, and meeting events.
• Helps in understanding collaboration patterns and identifying potential security issues.
• Accessible via the Security & Compliance Center.
• Log retention aligns with the Unified Audit Log policy.

Choosing the Right Audit Type for Your Needs

Selecting the appropriate auditing type depends on your organization's specific requirements and compliance needs. Turning on all auditing types in Microsoft 365 can significantly enhance security and compliance, but it also comes with potential performance and data management challenges. Carefully evaluate your organization's specific needs and resources before deciding to enable comprehensive auditing. By adopting a strategic and tailored approach, you can achieve a balance that ensures robust monitoring while maintaining system performance. Consider the following scenarios to determine which audit logs you might need:

Compliance and Regulatory Requirements

If your organization must adhere to strict regulatory standards, such as GDPR, HIPAA, or SOX, the Unified Audit Log is essential. It provides a comprehensive overview of activities across multiple services, ensuring that you can meet audit and compliance obligations.

Monitoring Email Activities

For organizations where email security and administration are critical, Mailbox Audit Logging should be a priority. It helps in detecting unauthorized access, tracking email deletions, and ensuring that mailbox permissions are adequately managed.

User and Group Management

If tracking changes to user identities, group memberships, and directory roles is imperative, AAD Audit Logs are necessary. These logs are particularly useful for IT departments that manage large volumes of users and applications.

Data Visualization and Reporting

For organizations that rely heavily on data analytics and visualization, Power BI Audit Logs provide valuable insights into user interactions and data security compliance within the Power BI service.

Collaborative Workspaces

If your organization uses Microsoft Teams extensively for collaboration, Teams Audit Logs are vital. They help in monitoring team creation, user activities, and potential security threats within the collaborative environment.

Takeaway

Understanding the different types of auditing available in Microsoft 365 is crucial for maintaining security, compliance, and operational efficiency. By choosing the right audit logs based on your organizational needs, you can ensure comprehensive monitoring and safeguarding of your digital environment.

Sixwatch is here to help. To learn how we can assist you and your team with Microsoft 365, contact the Sixwatch IT Sales Team at 813-815-6000.