# Device Control Settings

Settings allows admins to configure audit and alert settings.

## Configuring Audit Settings

To configure audit settings, Navigate to Settings -> Audit Settings

Admins can configure audit settings to track and record events for monitoring and compliance.

## Device Audit Report

Device audit report contains the details of recently connected devices and blocked devices attempting access.

![Audit Settings](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/images/dc-settings1.png)

Device Audit Reports can be configured to specify the retention period for device activity logs and to select the device types to be monitored.

Devices will be audited regardless of policy deployment. Any devices selected in the Device Audit Report settings will be actively monitored, ensuring comprehensive tracking without requiring a policy.

**Note:** When this option is disabled, audit data will only be retained for one day. At the end of each day, all recorded data will be automatically erased.

## File Audit Report

File audit report contains the details of file tracing, including insights of accessed file, username, computers, and devices involved.

![Audit Settings](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/images/dc-settings2.png)

File Audit Reports can be configured to specify the retention period for file activity logs and to select the file actions to be monitored.

**Note:** When this option is disabled, audit data will only be retained for one day. At the end of each day, all recorded data will be automatically erased.

## File Shadow Report

File shadow report contains the details of shadow copies, the network share path where it is stored, username, computers, and devices involved.

![Audit Settings](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/images/dc-settings3.png)

File shadow Reports can be configured to specify the retention period.

**Note:** When this option is disabled, audit data will only be retained for one day. At the end of each day, all recorded data will be automatically erased.

## File Archive Report

The File Archive Report option enables the retention of selected reports for a specified period, in addition to the individually configured retention duration. When enabled, the selected audit reports are archived—removed from the database server and stored in the specified file path for the defined period.

![Audit Settings](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/images/dc-settings4.png)

Enter the retention period to specify how long the reports should be stored before they are deleted. Additionally, specify the file path where the reports must be archived.

## Configuring Alert settings

Admins can configure alert settings to receive email notifications when a blocked device is connected to a managed computer or when a temporary access request is submitted.

![Alert Settings](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/images/dc-settings5.png)

1. To configure alert settings, Navigate to Settings -> Alert Settings
2. Enter the email addresses of the admins who should receive the notifications and click save