Top 10 Best File Activity Monitoring Software of 2026

Varonis DatAdvantage is a premier file activity monitoring solution that delivers deep visibility into data access, usage, and permissions across Windows, Unix/Linux, NAS, and cloud file shares. It uses advanced analytics and machine learning to detect anomalous behavior, over-privileged accounts, and potential threats in real-time. The platform also supports automated remediation, data classification, and compliance reporting, making it ideal for securing unstructured data at enterprise scale.

Netwrix Auditor is a robust IT auditing platform specializing in file activity monitoring for Windows file servers, SharePoint, NetApp, and EMC environments. It captures detailed logs of file access, modifications, deletions, and permission changes with before-and-after views for forensic analysis. The solution provides real-time alerts, customizable reports, and compliance dashboards to enhance security posture and regulatory adherence.

Lepide Auditor is a robust auditing platform specializing in file activity monitoring across Windows file servers, NAS devices like NetApp and EMC, and SharePoint. It tracks user access, modifications, deletions, permission changes, and share activities with real-time alerts and detailed forensic reports. The tool emphasizes compliance with standards like GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS through automated reporting and risk analysis features.

Quest Change Auditor is an enterprise-grade auditing tool focused on monitoring file system activities on Windows servers, capturing changes such as creations, modifications, deletions, and permission alterations. It provides detailed forensics with before-and-after views, real-time alerts, and customizable reports to support compliance with standards like GDPR, HIPAA, and SOX. The agentless solution leverages native Windows auditing for efficient deployment across file shares and NAS devices.

ManageEngine ADAudit Plus is a robust auditing solution focused on Active Directory, Windows file servers, and member servers, providing detailed monitoring of file activities such as access, modifications, deletions, and permission changes. It offers real-time alerts, customizable reports, and forensic analysis to help organizations track user actions and ensure compliance with standards like GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS. The tool excels in Windows environments by integrating file auditing with AD change tracking for comprehensive visibility.

FileAudit by IS Decisions is a real-time file activity monitoring solution tailored for Windows environments, tracking access, modifications, deletions, and permissions changes on file servers, NAS, and SharePoint. It delivers instant alerts, comprehensive audit reports, and forensic playback capabilities to detect insider threats and ensure compliance. The agentless deployment simplifies setup while providing detailed activity trails integrated with Active Directory.

Tripwire Enterprise is a robust file integrity monitoring (FIM) solution designed for enterprise environments, providing continuous surveillance of critical files, directories, and system configurations to detect unauthorized changes. It excels in File Activity Monitoring by tracking file modifications, access events, and user activities in real-time, with detailed auditing and alerting capabilities. The platform supports compliance with standards like PCI DSS, HIPAA, and SOX through automated reporting and policy enforcement, integrating seamlessly with SIEM and other security tools.

Wazuh is an open-source security platform with robust File Integrity Monitoring (FIM) capabilities, tracking file creations, deletions, modifications, and attribute changes in real-time across endpoints. It uses checksums (MD5/SHA1/SHA256) to detect unauthorized alterations and supports monitoring of files, directories, and Windows registry keys. Integrated with SIEM and visualization tools like Elasticsearch, it provides detailed reports including who performed changes via the 'whodata' feature. Ideal for security monitoring and compliance auditing like PCI-DSS or GDPR.

OSSEC is an open-source host-based intrusion detection system (HIDS) with strong file integrity monitoring (FIM) capabilities, scanning specified files and directories for changes in content, attributes, ownership, and permissions. It supports both periodic integrity checks and real-time monitoring on platforms like Linux using inotify. OSSEC generates detailed alerts on modifications, deletions, or additions, integrating with SIEM systems for centralized analysis.

Process Monitor (ProcMon) is a free advanced monitoring tool from Microsoft Sysinternals that provides real-time visibility into file system, Registry, process/thread, and network activity on Windows systems. It logs detailed events including file create, read, write, delete operations, along with the responsible processes, making it ideal for diagnosing file access issues and troubleshooting. With powerful filtering, highlighting, and boot-time logging, it offers deep insights for IT professionals.