Objective  

This article explains how to enable password protection for archived files in ManageEngine ADAudit Plus. Enabling this feature ensures that scheduled or exported audit archives are secured and only accessible to authorized users.

Prerequisites  

• Have access to the ADAudit Plus web console with an account holding administrator privileges.

• Scheduled archive generation must already be configured and available (such as audit reports or log archives).
  

• The ADAudit Plus application must be running on the latest build version to ensure this security feature is accessible.
  

Steps to follow  

1. Log in to the ADAudit Plus web console as an administrator.
   
2. Navigate to Admin > General Settings > Privacy Settings.

3. On the Privacy Settings page, find the option Enable Password Protection for Archived Files.

4. Enter a strong password in the Set Password and Confirm Password fields.

5. Click Save to apply the changes.

6. ADAudit Plus will now apply this password to all newly generated archive files (typically in ZIP format).
   

Validation and confirmation  

• Generate a scheduled archive or manually export one.
  
• Locate the archive file in the configured storage directory.

• Try to open the file—it should now prompt for a password.

• Enter the configured password to confirm that access is restricted correctly.
  

Tips  

• Use a strong, unique password that includes a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters.

• Store the password securely (e.g., using a password manager).

• Share the password only with authorized personnel.

• Rotate archive passwords periodically as part of your data protection policy.

Related topics and articles  

• Archive configuration

• Restore archived events