Top ApexSQL Audit Alternatives for Comprehensive SQL Server Auditing

ApexSQL Audit is a robust solution designed for SQL Server auditing and compliance, helping users track access, changes, and security events on their databases. It excels at auditing queries, execution, and security operations, storing data in a centralized, tamper-evident repository, and generating comprehensive reports. While ApexSQL Audit is a powerful tool for meeting compliance standards like HIPAA, PCI, and SOX, many users seek alternatives that might offer different features, pricing models, or platform compatibility. This article explores some of the best ApexSQL Audit alternatives to help you find the perfect fit for your auditing needs.

Top ApexSQL Audit Alternatives

When searching for an ApexSQL Audit alternative, it's essential to consider your specific requirements, including budget, platform, and desired features. Here are some top contenders that offer compelling solutions for SQL Server auditing and security.

NetWrix Auditor

NetWrix Auditor is a commercial Windows-based solution focused on configuration auditing of IT infrastructure. While it doesn't list specific features, its disruptive approach to configuration auditing makes it a strong contender for those looking for comprehensive oversight of their systems, similar to the monitoring capabilities of ApexSQL Audit.

GreenSQL

GreenSQL is an open-source, web-based database firewall primarily designed to protect databases from SQL injection attacks. While ApexSQL Audit focuses on auditing, GreenSQL offers a unique security feature – SQL Injection Protection – as a proxy for MySQL and other databases. This makes it a valuable alternative for those prioritizing active threat protection over comprehensive logging.

LepideAuditor

LepideAuditor is a freemium Windows-based change auditing software that covers a broad range of IT components including Active Directory, GPO, File Server, Exchange, SQL, SharePoint, and Office 365. Its key feature is real-time monitoring, providing similar granular change tracking capabilities to ApexSQL Audit, but across a wider enterprise environment.

Acra

Acra is a free and open-source solution available for Mac, Linux, and self-hosted environments. It focuses on helping users secure their databases in distributed and microservice-rich environments by selectively encrypting sensitive records with strong cryptography. While not a direct auditing tool like ApexSQL Audit, Acra offers a robust security layer that complements auditing by ensuring data integrity and confidentiality.

Each of these ApexSQL Audit alternatives brings its unique strengths to the table, whether it's comprehensive IT infrastructure auditing, specialized SQL injection protection, broad enterprise change tracking, or robust data encryption. Evaluating your specific needs for compliance, security, and performance will guide you to the best solution for your SQL Server environment.