Hello Azure Community,
I wanted to bring attention to an exciting new feature that just landed in public preview: Azure NetApp Files File Access Logs. If you’re dealing with enterprise-scale storage or managing sensitive data, this is something you’ll want to be aware of.
We all know how critical visibility is in modern cloud environments. Whether you’re addressing compliance requirements, hunting down unusual activity, or simply optimizing operations, detailed file access logging can make a huge difference. And now, Azure NetApp Files delivers exactly that.
What’s New?
This new capability allows you to log all file access activity on Azure NetApp Files — with detailed insights such as:
- User identity performing the access
- Operation type (e.g. read, write, delete)
- Timestamps for each action
- Protocol support for both SMB and NFSv4.1
- Dual-protocol volume visibility
These logs provide enhanced monitoring and traceability, helping you detect unauthorized access, investigate incidents quickly, and even identify usage patterns that could lead to cost optimization.
Why It Matters
From my perspective, this isn’t just about checking a security box. It’s about building trust in your data layer, making sure you’re ready for audits, and enabling your architecture to meet both internal and external governance demands.
With this feature, you can:
- Improve compliance posture for regulated industries
- Monitor and respond to insider threats or misconfigurations
- Align with the Well-Architected Framework’s security best practices
- Integrate access logging into existing SIEM or operational workflows
Availability
As of now, this feature is available in select regions, with broader rollout planned soon. You can check which regions are included via the Azure documentation.
How to Start
If you’re already using Azure NetApp Files, you should definitely look into enabling access logging for your volumes — especially if you’re using dual-protocol support or NFSv4.1, where tracing access has historically been more challenging.
For setup guidance, head over to the Microsoft Learn documentation and search for how to manage file access logs in Azure NetApp Files.
I think this is a major step forward for security-conscious teams working with file shares in the cloud. Let me know if you’re testing it out — I’m especially interested in how folks are integrating it with their monitoring solutions.
Until next time,
Eduardo