Search services should have resource logs enabled
Audit enabling of resource logs. This enables you to recreate activity trails to use for investigation purposes; when a security incident occurs or when your network is compromised. Applies to Search services (`Microsoft.Search/searchServices`).
This enables you to recreate activity trails to use for investigation purposes; when a security incident occurs or when your network is compromised.
What this control checks
Resource logging configuration on Azure Search services
Common pitfalls
requiredRetentionDays defaults to 365
The requiredRetentionDays parameter has a defaultValue of "365".
effect defaults to AuditIfNotExists
The effect parameter has a defaultValue of "AuditIfNotExists".
Audit evidence
Evidence that deployed resources meet this control: Azure Policy compliance results for the built-in policy definition "Resource logs in Search services should be enabled" (b4330a05-a843-4bc8-bf9a-cacce50c67f4); PowerPipe control azure_compliance.control.search_service_logging_enabled.
Framework-specific interpretation
NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5: Mapped to AU-12 (Audit Record Generation), AU-12(1) (System-wide and Time-correlated Audit Trail), AU-6(4) (Central Review and Analysis) and 1 more clause.
FedRAMP Moderate Baseline Rev 4: Mapped to AU-12 (Audit Generation).
Framework mappings
The clauses this control is mapped to in each framework.
- AU-6(4) Central Review And Analysis
- AU-6(5) Central Review And Analysis
- AU-12 Audit Record Generation
- AU-12(1) System-Wide And Time-Correlated Audit Trial
FedRAMP Moderate Baseline Rev 4
- AU-12 Audit Generation
- 3.3.1: Create and retain system audit logs and records to the extent needed to enable the monitoring, analysis, investigation, and reporting of unlawful or unauthorized system activity
- 3.3.2 Ensure that the actions of individual system users can be uniquely traced to those users, so they can be held accountable for their actions
- AU.L2-3.3.1 Create and retain system audit logs and records to the extent needed to enable the monitoring, analysis, investigation, and reporting of unlawful or unauthorized system activity
- AU.L2-3.3.2 Ensure that the actions of individual system users can be uniquely traced to those users, so they can be held accountable for their actions
- AU-6(4) Central Review And Analysis
- AU-6(5) Integration / Scanning And Monitoring Capabilities
- AU-12 Audit Generation
- AU-12(1) System-Wide / Time-Correlated Audit Trail
- 1208.09aa3System.1-09.aa 09.10 Monitoring
Related controls
Tool mappings
Use these identifiers to cross-reference this control across tools, reports, and evidence.
- Compliance.tf Control:
search_service_logging_enabled - Powerpipe Control:
azure_compliance.control.search_service_logging_enabled - Azure Policy Definition:
b4330a05-a843-4bc8-bf9a-cacce50c67f4
Last reviewed: 2026-10-14