FileAudit vs Paessler PRTG Network Monitor

FileAudit monitors, alerts on, and reports access to files and folders across Windows file servers and supported cloud storage. On Windows, it records access events in real time and associates them with user accounts, IP addresses, and machine names. Alerts can flag denied access, deletions, or mass file events; predefined PowerShell scripts can be configured to block or log off a user. Reports cover NTFS permissions, permission changes, ownership, and file or folder properties. Cloud auditing is an add-on for services including OneDrive for Business, SharePoint Online, Microsoft Teams, Google Drive, Dropbox Business, and Box. It reads provider audit logs and collects activity metadata rather than file contents; connected services need a supported subscription plan and administrator authorization. Deployment is agentless, so the software need not be installed on the Windows server under audit. Reports are described as supporting GDPR, HIPAA, ISO 27001, and PCI-DSS. Requirements include Windows Server 2012 R2 or later, Windows 8.1 or later, and .NET Framework 4. The trial lasts 20 days and is limited to three servers. Pricing is based on an annual subscription determined by users and systems audited.

Paessler PRTG Network Monitor monitors systems, devices, network traffic, applications, and other infrastructure metrics from an on-premises installation. It runs on Windows servers and includes more than 250 preconfigured sensors, each measuring one or more aspects of a device. Monitoring tools include customizable alerts, scheduled reports, distributed monitoring, and dashboards with live status information. Paessler also lists adaptive AI-driven anomaly detection and smart sensor recommendations. PRTG provides an API for monitoring data and custom features, and can send webhook notifications to Slack and Microsoft Teams. Its free iOS and Android apps display monitoring data and send push notifications, but do not support cluster setups. The free plan covers up to 100 sensors; paid plans start at $200 per month paid annually. Each server accepts one license key, so license sizes cannot be combined on a server.