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How to Send Azure PIM Logs to Microsoft Defender or Splunk

Nimra MalikNimra Malik Oct 23, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to know how to export Microsoft Entra Privileged Identity Management (PIM) audit logs to external security monitoring tools like Microsoft Defender and Splunk.

How to Send Azure PIM Logs to Microsoft Defender or Splunk
Product
Azure Privileged Identity Management (PIM)
Device & OS
not provided
Scenario
Configuring security monitoring and routing directory audit logs from Microsoft Entra ID to a centralized SIEM or workspace.
Observed behavior
The user requires guidance on the correct diagnostic settings, Log Analytics workspace integration, or Splunk connectors needed to successfully route PIM logs.
Before you start

Ensure you have Global Administrator or Security Administrator privileges in your Microsoft Entra ID tenant to configure and modify diagnostic settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Configure Diagnostic Settings and Consult Microsoft Q&A

Since exporting Azure PIM logs requires specific Log Analytics or Event Hub configurations, utilizing Microsoft Entra ID Diagnostic Settings and the official Microsoft Q&A community is the best approach.

Exporting Azure PIM logs involves configuring Diagnostic Settings in Microsoft Entra ID. This routes directory audit data to a Log Analytics workspace for Microsoft Defender, or streams it to an Azure Event Hub for ingestion by Splunk.

1
Access Microsoft Entra ID Diagnostic Settings

Log in to the Azure Portal, navigate to 'Microsoft Entra ID', scroll down to the 'Monitoring' section on the left sidebar, and select 'Diagnostic settings'.

2
Add a New Diagnostic Setting

Click 'Add diagnostic setting'. Under the 'Categories' section, check the box for 'AuditLogs', as PIM activation events are recorded as directory audit logs.

3
Select the Destination

For Microsoft Defender, select 'Send to Log Analytics workspace' and choose your integrated workspace. For Splunk, select 'Stream to an event hub' and select your configured Event Hub namespace.

4
Consult Microsoft Specialists

If you encounter ingestion issues, post your specific architecture details on Microsoft Q&A under the 'Azure PIM' or 'Microsoft Entra ID' tags, where cloud specialists can provide custom deployment scripts.

Configure Diagnostic Settings and Consult Microsoft Q&A
Splunk Integration Note: To successfully ingest logs from the Event Hub into Splunk, you must install and configure the Splunk Add-on for Microsoft Cloud Services on your Splunk instance.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I send Azure PIM logs directly to Splunk without an Azure Event Hub?

No, typically Microsoft Entra ID audit logs must first be streamed to an Azure Event Hub. Splunk then reads these logs from the Event Hub using the Splunk Add-on for Microsoft Cloud Services.

Which specific log categories contain my PIM activation data?

You need to select the 'AuditLogs' category within the Diagnostic settings. Privileged Identity Management role activations and assignment changes are recorded as part of the directory audit logs.

Why are my PIM logs not appearing in Microsoft Defender?

Ensure that your Log Analytics workspace is correctly connected to Microsoft Defender for Cloud, and verify that you have granted the necessary permissions for Defender to ingest data from that specific workspace.

Do I need a premium Azure license to export PIM logs?

Yes, utilizing Azure PIM features requires Microsoft Entra ID P2 licenses. Additionally, exporting these logs to external workspaces or event hubs may incur Azure data ingestion and storage costs.