Hello, I'm learning how to use audits in SQL Server 2014, but when I opened the Security folder there was no Audits folder inside. I did a bit of research and I found out that auditing is a feature in all editions of SQL Server 2012 onwards so I should have the Audits folder in order to create a new audit. There doesn't seem to be many posts like this online because the only posts I found about missing audit folders were about SQL Server 2008 (which doesn't include auditing in the standard version). If someone could figure out what's causing the Audits folder to not appear then that would be great. Thanks.

According to Features Supported by the Editions of SQL Server 2008 R2 auditing is only available in 2008 / 2008 R2 Enterprise / Datacenter.

According to Features Supported by the Editions of SQL Server 2012 (AND 2014) auditing has been split up in SQL Server 2012, so that basic auditing is now offered in Standard Edition.

According to Features Supported by the Editions of SQL Server 2016 basic in all editions only.

 Here is a summary of the SQL Server Audit support in the different editions:

Edition	SQL Server 2008 and 2008 R2	SQL Server 2012 and 2014
Enterprise	Server- and database-level	Server- and database-level
Evaluation	Server- and database-level	Server- and database-level
Developer	Server- and database-level	Server- and database-level
Datacenter	Server- and database-level	N/A
Business Intelligence	None	Server-level
Standard	None	Server-level
Web	None	Server-level
Express	None	Server-level

• Edited by Andrey Langovoy 20 hours 13 minutes ago

I hope Andrey clarifies your query. Furthermore, below I have also shared some informative refrences which might helps you to get in more details.

View a SQL Server Audit Log

SQL Server Audit (Database Engine)

Different ways to audit SQL Server security

You may also take help from this - Track all critical and granular changes on SQL server with real time alerts

According to Features Supported by the Editions of SQL Server 2008 R2 auditing is only available in 2008 / 2008 R2 Enterprise / Datacenter.

According to Features Supported by the Editions of SQL Server 2012 (AND 2014) auditing has been split up in SQL Server 2012, so that basic auditing is now offered in Standard Edition.

According to Features Supported by the Editions of SQL Server 2016 basic in all editions only.

 Here is a summary of the SQL Server Audit support in the different editions:

Edition	SQL Server 2008 and 2008 R2	SQL Server 2012 and 2014
Enterprise	Server- and database-level	Server- and database-level
Evaluation	Server- and database-level	Server- and database-level
Developer	Server- and database-level	Server- and database-level
Datacenter	Server- and database-level	N/A
Business Intelligence	None	Server-level
Standard	None	Server-level
Web	None	Server-level
Express	None	Server-level

• Edited by Andrey Langovoy Friday, July 03, 2015 10:54 AM

This doesn't answer my question, I already knew that my version of SQL Server had the auditing feature. The problem is that the Audits folders doesn't show up, meaning that I can't create / view audits.

Hello Adam,

Which Version/Edition of SSMS do you have installed, may be the Express Edition?

I have SQL Server 2014 (version 12), I'm not sure which edition it is but I would think it's the express edition as I didn't pay for it.

Run the query below.  If this returns anything other than Enterprise, Evaluation, or Developer edition, then the Auditing feature will not be available:

SELECT SERVERPROPERTY('Edition');

I executed the code and it says that I have the Express edition, although in the table above it says that if I have SQL Server 2014 Express edition then I should have server-level auditing.

Adam, sorry, I thought you meant database auditing which provides database level events for a server audit.

I don't think Express supports GUI definition for server audits.  See the Books Online for T-SQL syntax and examples:

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc280448.aspx

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc280767.aspx