Jericho Security | Glossary

Jericho's Cybersecurity Glossary | File Integrity Monitoring

Written by Jericho Security Team | September 27, 2024

Definition:

File Integrity Monitoring (FIM) is a security technology that tracks and monitors changes to files and systems to detect unauthorized modifications, which may indicate malicious activity or system tampering.

Use Cases:

  • Used by organizations to detect changes in sensitive files, such as system configuration files or databases.
  • Employed in compliance with regulatory frameworks that require the monitoring of file integrity, like PCI DSS.

Related Terms:

Questions and Answers:

  • How does FIM enhance security?
    FIM enhances security by detecting unauthorized changes to critical files, alerting administrators to potential breaches or malicious activity.

  • What are common use cases for FIM?
    FIM is commonly used to monitor system files, application files, databases, and log files for unauthorized changes.

  • Why is FIM important for compliance?
    FIM is often required by regulatory frameworks like PCI DSS, ensuring that organizations can detect and respond to unauthorized changes to sensitive systems and data.