The PSM Logs Folder holds all session activity logs in CyberArk Privileged Session Manager.

Curious where CyberArk’s Privileged Session Manager (PSM) keeps track of what happens during a session? If you’ve ever needed to audit, troubleshoot, or simply understand the flow of a remote privileged session, the location of those records matters. Think of PSM as a careful observer that logs every click, keystroke—well, almost every keystroke—and every hiccup along the way. The place where all those session details land is the PSM Logs Folder.

The key takeaway is simple: the PSM Logs Folder is the designated home for session activity logs. It’s where the system preserves the record of what users did while connected to protected targets, giving security teams a reliable trail for compliance and incident handling. Let me walk you through why that folder matters, what it contains, and how it fits into the bigger picture of secure privileged access.

What goes into the PSM Logs Folder?

When people ask what’s stored in the logs, the short version is: a comprehensive activity ledger of privileged sessions. The folder captures:

• Timestamps: when a session started, when it ended, and any notable events in between.

• User identities: who initiated the session, and who approved or monitored it.

• Target systems and resources: which hosts or applications were accessed during the session.

• Actions and commands: what users did, including the commands executed, if the configuration allows that level of detail.

• Errors and warnings: any hiccups, timeouts, or failed commands that occurred during the session.

If you’re a security or compliance-minded reader, you know why that level of detail matters. Detailed logs enable audits that verify who did what and when. They also support forensic reviews if something doesn’t look right—like an unusual sequence of actions or an attempt to access a restricted asset.

Why call it a “logs” folder, and how is it different from other PSM storage?

CyberArk’s PSM is a multi-faceted tool, and it stores different kinds of session data in distinct places. Here’s how the main folders line up, with a quick peek at why each exists:

• PSM Logs Folder: The heartbeat of activity. This is all about textual and structured records of session activity—what happened, when, and by whom.

• PSM Recordings Folder: Think of this as the video archive. If you’ve ever watched a security camera replay, you know what video gives you: a visual narrative of the session. Recordings help you review user actions in a visual timeline. They’re invaluable for understanding context—things you can’t always read in logs alone.

• PSM Configuration Folder: This is the brain of the operation. It holds configuration files that determine how PSM behaves, what targets it can connect to, what levels of logging to capture, and how it integrates with other security tools. It’s essential for administration and fine-tuning, but it isn’t where you’d find the logs themselves.

• PSM Components Folder: More like the toolbox. It houses the software components required for PSM to run, such as libraries and executables. Without these, PSM wouldn’t function, but again, this is not where session activity gets stored.

If you imagine the system as a small, well-organized library, the Logs Folder is the quiet archive room where you can go back and study a specific session’s narrative through text data. Recordings are the visual aisle where you can press play and see what happened. Config files are the policy and setting shelves, and components are the hardware and software building blocks that keep the shelves sturdy.

Why the logs matter in real life

Audits and compliance are the obvious drivers, but there are subtler, practical reasons to care about the PSM Logs Folder:

• Accountability: You want to know who did what, especially when dealing with sensitive systems. Logs make it harder for someone to claim they did something they didn’t.

• Troubleshooting: When a session misbehaves or a command fails, the logs provide clues. They help you trace timing, sequence, and possible root causes.

• Security monitoring: Anomalies show up in patterns—unexpected times, unfamiliar targets, or unusual command sequences. Logs are the breadcrumbs that guide analysts to the source.

• Retention and forensics: Organizations often have policy-driven retention windows. Logs survive longer than a single session, enabling retrospective analysis if an incident surfaces later.

• Integration with SIEM: Logs can feed security information and event management systems. When you centralize these records, you turn scattered data into actionable insight.

A quick note on the human side

Let’s be honest: logs can be dense. They’re designed for machines to parse, not for bedtime reading. The trick is to pair logs with accessible tooling and clear retention policies. That way, a security engineer isn’t left staring at a wall of timestamps, but can filter for relevant sessions, extract meaningful patterns, and act decisively. It’s not just about compliance—it’s about making security practical and approachable.

A few practical distinctions you’ll notice when comparing folders

• Logs vs. Recordings: Logs tell you “what happened” in a structured, searchable way. Recordings show you “how it happened” with a visual replay. In many investigations, you’ll want both, but they serve different investigative needs.

• Logs vs. Configuration: Logs are dynamic, recording real-time activity. Configuration is static until you change it. Logs reflect reality; configuration shows the rules under which that reality occurred.

• Logs vs. Components: Logs capture events; components are the building blocks that make those events possible. They don’t hold a history of what happened.

A simple mental model

If you’ve ever used a security camera system at home, you’ll recognize the pattern. Logs are like the written incident log—who entered, when, and what doors were touched. Recordings are the video footage—you can watch someone navigate the space. Configuration is the control panel where you set rules (who can enter, when, and where). Components are the hardware and software that power the cameras and the recording server. In CyberArk’s PSM, the Logs Folder is the written record of activity, and the Recordings Folder is the video replay.

Where to look and how to use it (in practice)

For someone responsible for security operations or audit readiness, the PSM Logs Folder is typically accessed through the same administrative interface that you use to manage PSM. You’ll find log files or log views that can be filtered by:

• Time range

• User ID

• Target host or resource

• Session ID

• Event type (logon, command, error, etc.)

Once you’ve located a relevant session, you can drill into the details to answer questions like:

• Who initiated the session and who approved it?

• Which systems were touched during the session?

• Were there any failed commands or unusual actions?

• Do the logs align with the expected operational window?

Of course, you’ll want to pair this with the corresponding recordings if a deeper, more contextual review is warranted. The visual replay can confirm suspicions raised by the textual logs, or it can reveal a nuance that logs alone miss.

Best-practice notes you’ll appreciate

• Permissions matter: Protect the Logs Folder with strict access controls. Only authorized roles—like security analysts and auditors—should be able to read or export logs.

• Integrity and tamper-detection: Use write-once or cryptographic signing where possible to ensure logs aren’t altered after the fact.

• Centralized management: Centralize logs from PSM with your broader security data pipeline. This makes correlation across systems faster and more reliable.

• Retention policy: Align storage duration with regulatory requirements and internal governance. Shorter for routine operations, longer for compliance-critical environments.

• Regular review: Schedule periodic review cycles. Logs aren’t a “set it and forget it” feature; they’re most valuable when someone routinely examines them for patterns and anomalies.

Common questions and gentle clarifications

• Do logs capture everything a user does? Logs capture the important, audit-relevant events. Some environments may suppress or redact certain details to balance security with privacy and performance.

• How do logs differ from monitoring alerts? Logs are records you can search and inspect; alerts are real-time notifications triggered by predefined conditions. A smart setup uses both: logs for deep analysis and alerts for immediate action.

• Can I rely on recordings alone? Recordings provide context, but they don’t replace the structured, searchable data in logs. Use them together for a complete view.

A closing thought—why this detail matters

If you care about governance, you’ll value where the PSM stores session activity. The PSM Logs Folder isn’t flashy, but it’s foundational. It gives you a trustworthy, searchable account of what happened during privileged sessions. And in security, trust is built on clarity—clarity that comes from well-structured logs, clearly defined retention, and easy access for those who need to protect critical assets.

So, the next time someone asks, “Where are session activities stored?” you can answer with confidence: in the PSM Logs Folder. It’s the quiet workhorse of CyberArk’s Privileged Session Manager, quietly recording the story of every privileged connection for audits, investigations, and ongoing protection. And when you pair those logs with the right recordings and a thoughtful governance approach, you’ve got a solid basis for security that’s both practical and principled.