diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/security/index.js b/x-pack/plugins/security/index.js
index 0346fa90b9cfa..535fbf8cf82d3 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/security/index.js
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/security/index.js
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ import { registerPrivilegesWithCluster } from './server/lib/privileges';
 import { createDefaultRoles } from './server/lib/authorization/create_default_roles';
 import { initPrivilegesApi } from './server/routes/api/v1/privileges';
 import { hasPrivilegesWithServer } from './server/lib/authorization/has_privileges';
+import { SecurityAuditLogger } from './server/lib/audit_logger';
+import { AuditLogger } from '../../server/lib/audit_logger';
 
 export const security = (kibana) => new kibana.Plugin({
   id: 'security',
@@ -51,6 +53,9 @@ export const security = (kibana) => new kibana.Plugin({
           `may contain alphanumeric characters (a-z, A-Z, 0-9), underscores and hyphens`
         ),
       }).default(),
+      audit: Joi.object({
+        enabled: Joi.boolean().default(false)
+      }).default(),
     }).default();
   },
 
@@ -98,6 +103,8 @@ export const security = (kibana) => new kibana.Plugin({
       await createDefaultRoles(server);
     });
 
+    server.expose('auditLogger', new SecurityAuditLogger(server.config(), new AuditLogger(server, 'security')));
+
     // Register a function that is called whenever the xpack info changes,
     // to re-compute the license check results for this plugin
     xpackMainPlugin.info.feature(this.id).registerLicenseCheckResultsGenerator(checkLicense);
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/security/server/lib/audit_logger.js b/x-pack/plugins/security/server/lib/audit_logger.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..22cf207e3d363
--- /dev/null
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/security/server/lib/audit_logger.js
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License;
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License.
+ */
+
+export class SecurityAuditLogger {
+  constructor(config, auditLogger) {
+    this._enabled = config.get('xpack.security.audit.enabled');
+    this._auditLogger = auditLogger;
+  }
+
+  savedObjectsAuthorizationFailure(username, action, types, missing, args) {
+    if (!this._enabled) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    this._auditLogger.log(
+      'saved_objects_authorization_failure',
+      `${username} unauthorized to ${action} ${types.join(',')}, missing ${missing.join(',')}`,
+      {
+        username,
+        action,
+        types,
+        missing,
+        args
+      }
+    );
+  }
+
+  savedObjectsAuthorizationSuccess(username, action, types, args) {
+    if (!this._enabled) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    this._auditLogger.log(
+      'saved_objects_authorization_success',
+      `${username} authorized to ${action} ${types.join(',')}`,
+      {
+        username,
+        action,
+        types,
+        args,
+      }
+    );
+  }
+}
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/security/server/lib/audit_logger.test.js b/x-pack/plugins/security/server/lib/audit_logger.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..da727552aae58
--- /dev/null
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/security/server/lib/audit_logger.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,113 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License;
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License.
+ */
+import { SecurityAuditLogger } from './audit_logger';
+
+
+const createMockConfig = (settings) => {
+  const mockConfig = {
+    get: jest.fn()
+  };
+
+  const defaultSettings = {};
+
+  mockConfig.get.mockImplementation(key => {
+    return key in settings ? settings[key] : defaultSettings[key];
+  });
+
+  return mockConfig;
+};
+
+const createMockAuditLogger = () => {
+  return {
+    log: jest.fn()
+  };
+};
+
+describe(`#savedObjectsAuthorizationFailure`, () => {
+  test(`doesn't log anything when xpack.security.audit.enabled is false`, () => {
+    const config = createMockConfig({
+      'xpack.security.audit.enabled': false
+    });
+    const auditLogger = createMockAuditLogger();
+
+    const securityAuditLogger = new SecurityAuditLogger(config, auditLogger);
+    securityAuditLogger.savedObjectsAuthorizationFailure();
+
+    expect(auditLogger.log).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
+  });
+
+  test('logs via auditLogger when xpack.security.audit.enabled is true', () => {
+    const config = createMockConfig({
+      'xpack.security.audit.enabled': true
+    });
+    const auditLogger = createMockAuditLogger();
+    const securityAuditLogger = new SecurityAuditLogger(config, auditLogger);
+    const username = 'foo-user';
+    const action = 'foo-action';
+    const types = [ 'foo-type-1', 'foo-type-2' ];
+    const missing = [`action:saved-objects/${types[0]}/foo-action`, `action:saved-objects/${types[1]}/foo-action`];
+    const args = {
+      'foo': 'bar',
+      'baz': 'quz',
+    };
+
+    securityAuditLogger.savedObjectsAuthorizationFailure(username, action, types, missing, args);
+
+    expect(auditLogger.log).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      'saved_objects_authorization_failure',
+      expect.stringContaining(`${username} unauthorized to ${action}`),
+      {
+        username,
+        action,
+        types,
+        missing,
+        args,
+      }
+    );
+  });
+});
+
+describe(`#savedObjectsAuthorizationSuccess`, () => {
+  test(`doesn't log anything when xpack.security.audit.enabled is false`, () => {
+    const config = createMockConfig({
+      'xpack.security.audit.enabled': false
+    });
+    const auditLogger = createMockAuditLogger();
+
+    const securityAuditLogger = new SecurityAuditLogger(config, auditLogger);
+    securityAuditLogger.savedObjectsAuthorizationSuccess();
+
+    expect(auditLogger.log).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
+  });
+
+  test('logs via auditLogger when xpack.security.audit.enabled is true', () => {
+    const config = createMockConfig({
+      'xpack.security.audit.enabled': true
+    });
+    const auditLogger = createMockAuditLogger();
+    const securityAuditLogger = new SecurityAuditLogger(config, auditLogger);
+    const username = 'foo-user';
+    const action = 'foo-action';
+    const types = [ 'foo-type-1', 'foo-type-2' ];
+    const args = {
+      'foo': 'bar',
+      'baz': 'quz',
+    };
+
+    securityAuditLogger.savedObjectsAuthorizationSuccess(username, action, types, args);
+
+    expect(auditLogger.log).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      'saved_objects_authorization_success',
+      expect.stringContaining(`${username} authorized to ${action}`),
+      {
+        username,
+        action,
+        types,
+        args,
+      }
+    );
+  });
+});
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/security/server/lib/authorization/has_privileges.js b/x-pack/plugins/security/server/lib/authorization/has_privileges.js
index bd91272ebbcf5..03a0642ecb8e8 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/security/server/lib/authorization/has_privileges.js
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/security/server/lib/authorization/has_privileges.js
@@ -48,7 +48,8 @@ export function hasPrivilegesWithServer(server) {
 
       return {
         success,
-        missing: missingPrivileges
+        missing: missingPrivileges,
+        username: privilegeCheck.username,
       };
     };
   };
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/security/server/lib/authorization/has_privileges.test.js b/x-pack/plugins/security/server/lib/authorization/has_privileges.test.js
index 9d6b9580c47d8..aed3dbcfe94cc 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/security/server/lib/authorization/has_privileges.test.js
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/security/server/lib/authorization/has_privileges.test.js
@@ -43,8 +43,9 @@ const createMockServer = ({ settings = {} } = {}) => {
   return mockServer;
 };
 
-const mockResponse = (hasAllRequested, privileges, application = defaultApplication) => {
+const mockResponse = (hasAllRequested, privileges, application = defaultApplication, username = '') => {
   mockCallWithRequest.mockImplementationOnce(async () => ({
+    username: username,
     has_all_requested: hasAllRequested,
     application: {
       [application]: {
@@ -151,6 +152,21 @@ test(`returns success when has_all_requested`, async () => {
   expect(result.success).toBe(true);
 });
 
+test(`returns username from has_privileges response when has_all_requested`, async () => {
+  const mockServer = createMockServer();
+  const username = 'foo-username';
+  mockResponse(true, {
+    [getVersionPrivilege(defaultVersion)]: true,
+    [getLoginPrivilege()]: true,
+    foo: true,
+  }, defaultApplication, username);
+
+  const hasPrivilegesWithRequest = hasPrivilegesWithServer(mockServer);
+  const hasPrivileges = hasPrivilegesWithRequest({});
+  const result = await hasPrivileges(['foo']);
+  expect(result.username).toBe(username);
+});
+
 test(`returns false success when has_all_requested is false`, async () => {
   const mockServer = createMockServer();
   mockResponse(false, {
@@ -158,16 +174,6 @@ test(`returns false success when has_all_requested is false`, async () => {
     [getLoginPrivilege()]: true,
     foo: false,
   });
-  mockCallWithRequest.mockImplementationOnce(async () => ({
-    has_all_requested: false,
-    application: {
-      [defaultApplication]: {
-        [DEFAULT_RESOURCE]: {
-          foo: false
-        }
-      }
-    }
-  }));
 
   const hasPrivilegesWithRequest = hasPrivilegesWithServer(mockServer);
   const hasPrivileges = hasPrivilegesWithRequest({});
@@ -175,6 +181,21 @@ test(`returns false success when has_all_requested is false`, async () => {
   expect(result.success).toBe(false);
 });
 
+test(`returns username from has_privileges when has_all_requested is false`, async () => {
+  const username = 'foo-username';
+  const mockServer = createMockServer();
+  mockResponse(false, {
+    [getVersionPrivilege(defaultVersion)]: true,
+    [getLoginPrivilege()]: true,
+    foo: false,
+  }, defaultApplication, username);
+
+  const hasPrivilegesWithRequest = hasPrivilegesWithServer(mockServer);
+  const hasPrivileges = hasPrivilegesWithRequest({ });
+  const result = await hasPrivileges(['foo']);
+  expect(result.username).toBe(username);
+});
+
 test(`returns missing privileges`, async () => {
   const mockServer = createMockServer();
   mockResponse(false, {
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/security/server/lib/saved_objects_client/secure_options_builder.js b/x-pack/plugins/security/server/lib/saved_objects_client/secure_options_builder.js
index 65f0ce3ff64e8..9eba7621bf5d8 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/security/server/lib/saved_objects_client/secure_options_builder.js
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/security/server/lib/saved_objects_client/secure_options_builder.js
@@ -10,10 +10,12 @@
 export function secureSavedObjectsClientOptionsBuilder(server, hasPrivilegesWithRequest, options) {
   const adminCluster = server.plugins.elasticsearch.getCluster('admin');
   const { callWithInternalUser } = adminCluster;
+  const auditLogger = server.plugins.security.auditLogger;
 
   return {
     ...options,
     callCluster: callWithInternalUser,
-    hasPrivilegesWithRequest
+    hasPrivilegesWithRequest,
+    auditLogger
   };
 }
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/security/server/lib/saved_objects_client/secure_saved_objects_client.js b/x-pack/plugins/security/server/lib/saved_objects_client/secure_saved_objects_client.js
index 8793985233c35..08ee87d5f281b 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/security/server/lib/saved_objects_client/secure_saved_objects_client.js
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/security/server/lib/saved_objects_client/secure_saved_objects_client.js
@@ -12,60 +12,83 @@ export class SecureSavedObjectsClient {
       request,
       hasPrivilegesWithRequest,
       baseClient,
+      auditLogger,
     } = options;
 
     this.errors = baseClient.errors;
 
     this._client = baseClient;
     this._hasPrivileges = hasPrivilegesWithRequest(request);
+    this._auditLogger = auditLogger;
   }
 
   async create(type, attributes = {}, options = {}) {
-    await this._performAuthorizationCheck(type, 'create');
+    await this._performAuthorizationCheck(type, 'create', {
+      type,
+      attributes,
+      options,
+    });
 
     return await this._client.create(type, attributes, options);
   }
 
   async bulkCreate(objects, options = {}) {
     const types = uniq(objects.map(o => o.type));
-    await this._performAuthorizationCheck(types, 'create');
+    await this._performAuthorizationCheck(types, 'create', {
+      objects,
+      options,
+    });
 
     return await this._client.bulkCreate(objects, options);
   }
 
   async delete(type, id) {
-    await this._performAuthorizationCheck(type, 'delete');
+    await this._performAuthorizationCheck(type, 'delete', {
+      type,
+      id,
+    });
 
     return await this._client.delete(type, id);
   }
 
   async find(options = {}) {
-    await this._performAuthorizationCheck(options.type, 'search');
+    await this._performAuthorizationCheck(options.type, 'search', {
+      options,
+    });
 
     return await this._client.find(options);
   }
 
   async bulkGet(objects = []) {
-    for (const object of objects) {
-      await this._performAuthorizationCheck(object.type, 'mget');
-    }
+    const types = uniq(objects.map(o => o.type));
+    await this._performAuthorizationCheck(types, 'mget', {
+      objects,
+    });
 
     return await this._client.bulkGet(objects);
   }
 
   async get(type, id) {
-    await this._performAuthorizationCheck(type, 'get');
+    await this._performAuthorizationCheck(type, 'get', {
+      type,
+      id,
+    });
 
     return await this._client.get(type, id);
   }
 
   async update(type, id, attributes, options = {}) {
-    await this._performAuthorizationCheck(type, 'update');
+    await this._performAuthorizationCheck(type, 'update', {
+      type,
+      id,
+      attributes,
+      options,
+    });
 
     return await this._client.update(type, id, attributes, options);
   }
 
-  async _performAuthorizationCheck(typeOrTypes, action) {
+  async _performAuthorizationCheck(typeOrTypes, action, args) {
     const types = Array.isArray(typeOrTypes) ? typeOrTypes : [typeOrTypes];
     const actions = types.map(type => `action:saved-objects/${type}/${action}`);
 
@@ -77,7 +100,10 @@ export class SecureSavedObjectsClient {
       throw this._client.errors.decorateGeneralError(error, reason);
     }
 
-    if (!result.success) {
+    if (result.success) {
+      this._auditLogger.savedObjectsAuthorizationSuccess(result.username, action, types, args);
+    } else {
+      this._auditLogger.savedObjectsAuthorizationFailure(result.username, action, types, result.missing, args);
       const msg = `Unable to ${action} ${types.join(',')}, missing ${result.missing.join(',')}`;
       throw this._client.errors.decorateForbiddenError(new Error(msg));
     }