The ultimate guide to file integrity monitoring

This article explains File Integrity Monitoring (FIM) as a security control for detecting unauthorized changes to files and systems, issuing alerts, and maintaining audit records to support investigations and compliance. It outlines monitoring capabilities (file and permission changes, configuration alterations, malware-driven modifications, and log tampering), methods to reduce false positives through baselining and allow/blocklisting, and compliance drivers such as PCI DSS, HIPAA, GDPR, and CCPA. Best practices include clear objectives, tool selection, baselining, prioritizing critical assets, regular validation, and integration with SIEM and incident response.