OSS integrates with five Alibaba Cloud services to cover real-time metrics, access logging, configuration auditing, and security tracking. Use the table below to identify the right tool for your use case, then follow the link to the detailed guide.
| Need | Tool | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Real-time metrics and alerts | CloudMonitor | Free |
| Store access logs as hourly files in a bucket | Log storage | — |
| Query access logs instantly with built-in analysis | Simple Log Service (SLS) | — |
| Track configuration changes and audit compliance | Cloud Config | Free trial available |
| Audit all user operations on your account | ActionTrail | — |
CloudMonitor
CloudMonitor tracks OSS metrics in real time and triggers alerts when thresholds are exceeded. The service is free.
For details, see Monitoring service.
Log storage
Every request to OSS generates an access log entry. Log storage collects these entries and writes hourly log files to a bucket you specify, following a fixed naming convention. Use this option when you need raw log files for offline processing or long-term archival.
For details, see Log storage.
Simple Log Service (SLS)
Simple Log Service (SLS) collects OSS access logs in real time and makes them immediately queryable through a built-in query interface. It captures operational information, running status, and business activity, then delivers analyzed results for monitoring and auditing. Use this option when you need instant log visibility or want to run queries without managing log files yourself.
Log storage vs. SLS: which to use
| Aspect | Log storage | SLS real-time log query |
|---|---|---|
| Data availability | Hourly batches | Real-time |
| Query support | Offline (download and process) | Built-in query interface |
| Primary use | Archival, custom pipelines | Active monitoring, auditing |
For details, see Real-time log query.
Cloud Config
Cloud Config tracks the configuration history of your OSS resources and continuously audits them against compliance rules. Use it to detect configuration drift, maintain an audit trail of changes, and verify ongoing compliance. A free trial is available.
For details, see Cloud Config for OSS.
ActionTrail
ActionTrail records all operations performed under your Alibaba Cloud account — including logons and resource access — and provides security analytics, intrusion detection, resource change tracking, and compliance auditing. Use it when you need a full audit trail of who did what and when.
For details, see ActionTrail for OSS.