Database server auditing is a critical aspect of maintaining the security and integrity of your data. In a Windows environment, auditing can be performed using various tools and techniques to monitor and log database activities. This article will guide you through the process of setting up database server auditing on Windows, using SQL Server as an example.

Step 1: Enable SQL Server Audit Feature

SQL Server provides built-in auditing capabilities that allow you to track and log events related to database activities. To enable auditing, follow these steps:

1. Open SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS):

   • Launch SSMS and connect to your SQL Server instance.

2. Create a Server Audit:

   • In the Object Explorer, expand the "Security" folder, right-click on "Audits," and select "New Audit."
   • Configure the audit settings, such as the audit destination (file, Windows Application log, or Security log), and provide a name for the audit.

3. Create a Server Audit Specification:

   • Right-click on "Server Audit Specifications" under the "Security" folder and select "New Server Audit Specification."
   • Link the specification to the previously created audit and select the server-level actions you want to audit (e.g., LOGIN_CHANGE_PASSWORD_GROUP, SERVER_ROLE_MEMBER_CHANGE_GROUP).

4. Enable the Audit and Specification:

   • Right-click on the newly created audit and select "Enable."
   • Do the same for the server audit specification.

Step 2: Configure Database Audit Specification

1. Create a Database Audit Specification:

   • Expand the database you want to audit, then expand the "Security" folder, right-click on "Database Audit Specifications," and select "New Database Audit Specification."
   • Link the specification to the previously created server audit and select the database-level actions you want to audit (e.g., SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE).

2. Enable the Database Audit Specification:

   • Right-click on the newly created database audit specification and select "Enable."

Step 3: Verify and Review Audit Logs

1. Query Audit Logs:

   • You can query the audit logs using T-SQL. For example:

     SELECT * 
     FROM sys.fn_get_audit_file('C:\SQLAudit\*.sqlaudit', DEFAULT, DEFAULT);

2. Review Audit Logs in Event Viewer:

   • If you configured the audit to log to the Windows Application or Security log, you can review the logs using the Event Viewer.
   • Open Event Viewer, navigate to "Windows Logs," and select "Application" or "Security" based on your configuration.

Example: Enabling SQL Server Audit via PowerShell

You can also use PowerShell to automate the setup of SQL Server auditing. Here is an example script:

# Load SQL Server module
Import-Module SQLPS -DisableNameChecking

# Define audit and specification names
$auditName = "MyServerAudit"
$auditFilePath = "C:\SQLAudit\MyServerAudit.sqlaudit"
$serverAuditSpecName = "MyServerAuditSpec"
$databaseAuditSpecName = "MyDatabaseAuditSpec"

# Create and configure the server audit
Invoke-Sqlcmd -Query "
    CREATE SERVER AUDIT [$auditName]
    TO FILE (FILEPATH = '$auditFilePath')
    WITH (ON_FAILURE = CONTINUE);
    ALTER SERVER AUDIT [$auditName] WITH (STATE = ON);
"

# Create and configure the server audit specification
Invoke-Sqlcmd -Query "
    CREATE SERVER AUDIT SPECIFICATION [$serverAuditSpecName]
    FOR SERVER AUDIT [$auditName]
    ADD (LOGIN_CHANGE_PASSWORD_GROUP),
    ADD (SERVER_ROLE_MEMBER_CHANGE_GROUP);
    ALTER SERVER AUDIT SPECIFICATION [$serverAuditSpecName] WITH (STATE = ON);
"

# Create and configure the database audit specification
Invoke-Sqlcmd -Query "
    USE [YourDatabase];
    CREATE DATABASE AUDIT SPECIFICATION [$databaseAuditSpecName]
    FOR SERVER AUDIT [$auditName]
    ADD (SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE ON DATABASE::[YourDatabase] BY [public]);
    ALTER DATABASE AUDIT SPECIFICATION [$databaseAuditSpecName] WITH (STATE = ON);
"