Access asset activity and audit logs in Adobe Experience Manager Assets
This article explains how to track and review asset-related user actions in Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) Assets using built-in activity streams and repository audit logs.
Description description
Environment
- Adobe Experience Manager Assets on supported on-premises and cloud deployments
- Access method depends on the AEM version and hosting model
Issue/Symptoms
- You need to review asset actions such as uploads, edits, deletions, and sharing, including the user and date when the action was recorded.
- You need to determine whether Timeline, repository audit records, or a built-in report provides the detail and export format you need.
- No error is reported. The request is for activity review, reporting, or audit support.
Cause
AEM exposes asset activity through different sources. Timeline shows recorded activity for a selected asset, repository audit records are stored by event category, and built-in reports cover specific types of activity. Event coverage and access differ by deployment, so no single view should be assumed to provide a complete, date-filtered audit export for every asset action.
Resolution resolution
Follow the steps below to review recorded asset activity and audit information:
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Sign in to AEM Assets and navigate to the asset or folder you want to review.
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Select the asset and open Timeline. In AEM 6.5, select Timeline from the GlobalNav list. In AEM as a Cloud Service, open the selected asset’s Timeline view.
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Review the available Timeline entries. AEM 6.5 documentation lists events such as Create, Delete, Download (including renditions), Publish, Unpublish, Approve, Reject, and Move. Note: Timeline shows recorded events, not a guaranteed record of every edit or share action. Transient workflows are not displayed. For additional AEM 6.5 event types, check the Day CQ DAM Event Recorder configuration; the Assets activity-stream integration is disabled by default. This integration can consume CPU and disk space, especially during bulk imports.
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To inspect repository audit records, use the access method for your deployment:
- In AEM 6.5, use authorized CRX/DE Lite access to inspect the DAM records at
/var/audit/com.day.cq.dam/content/dam. Publish and Unpublish records use/var/audit/com.day.cq.replication/content; Move records use/var/audit/com.day.cq.wcm.core.page. - In AEM as a Cloud Service, open Cloud Manager’s Developer Console, select Repository Browser, choose the applicable service tier, and browse to the audit path. Repository Browser is read-only and displays only content the user has permission to access.
Note: The Repository Browser is for inspection; the cited documentation does not describe it as a bulk export tool. Do not use CRX/DE Lite for AEM as a Cloud Service stage or production environments.
- In AEM 6.5, use authorized CRX/DE Lite access to inspect the DAM records at
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If you use Assets View in AEM as a Cloud Service and need a CSV report for uploads or downloads, open Reports, create an Upload or Download report, choose the folder and date interval, select the required columns, and download the report. The Download report can include the downloader and download date. Note: These reports cover the supported report types; they are not a complete export of every asset audit event. Verify audit-log retention and purge settings before using repository records for compliance requirements.