Name: setting-up-cloudtrail-multi-region
Author: aws

Enables a multi-region AWS CloudTrail trail with S3 log storage, CloudWatch Logs integration, and CloudWatch Logs Insights queries for security monitoring and compliance auditing. Use when setting up centralized API activity logging across all AWS regions.

Setting Up CloudTrail Multi Region Overview Domain expertise for enabling AWS CloudTrail across all regions to capture comprehensive API activity logs and configuring CloudWatch Logs Insights for security monitoring, compliance auditing, and operational analysis. Set up a multi region trail To create a centralized multi region CloudTrail trail with S3 storage, CloudWatch Logs integration, and log analysis, follow the procedure exactly. See [CloudTrail multi region setup procedure](references/cloudtrail multi region setup.md). Troubleshooting S3 bucket already exists Choose a different globally unique name, or add a timestamp or organization identifier. Permission denied errors Verify your identity with aws sts get caller identity . Ensure your user/role has required actions attached. Do NOT use FullAccess managed policies. Trail not logging Verify IAM role permissions, check S3 bucket policy allows CloudTrail access, and ensure the trail is started with start logging . Missing events in CloudWatch Allow 5 15 minutes for initial log delivery. Verify the CloudWatch Logs role ARN is correct and the log group exists in the same region as the trail. Opt in region events not appearing This is normal — events from opt in regions may take several hours. Wait up to 24 hours before investigating further.