diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/security/common/licensing/license_features.ts b/x-pack/plugins/security/common/licensing/license_features.ts
index 8576e4bbc3555..c42e9ddf79a01 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/security/common/licensing/license_features.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/security/common/licensing/license_features.ts
@@ -43,6 +43,12 @@ export interface SecurityLicenseFeatures {
    */
   readonly allowAuditLogging: boolean;
 
+  /**
+   * Indicates whether we allow logging of legacy audit events.
+   * @deprecated
+   */
+  readonly allowLegacyAuditLogging: boolean;
+
   /**
    * Indicates whether we allow users to define document level security in roles.
    */
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/security/common/licensing/license_service.test.ts b/x-pack/plugins/security/common/licensing/license_service.test.ts
index 94aad8d3ac539..ef72de7dde51e 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/security/common/licensing/license_service.test.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/security/common/licensing/license_service.test.ts
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ describe('license features', function () {
       allowRbac: false,
       allowSubFeaturePrivileges: false,
       allowAuditLogging: false,
+      allowLegacyAuditLogging: false,
     });
   });
 
@@ -48,6 +49,7 @@ describe('license features', function () {
       allowRbac: false,
       allowSubFeaturePrivileges: false,
       allowAuditLogging: false,
+      allowLegacyAuditLogging: false,
     });
   });
 
@@ -69,6 +71,7 @@ describe('license features', function () {
           Object {
             "allowAccessAgreement": false,
             "allowAuditLogging": false,
+            "allowLegacyAuditLogging": false,
             "allowLogin": false,
             "allowRbac": false,
             "allowRoleDocumentLevelSecurity": false,
@@ -90,6 +93,7 @@ describe('license features', function () {
           Object {
             "allowAccessAgreement": true,
             "allowAuditLogging": true,
+            "allowLegacyAuditLogging": true,
             "allowLogin": true,
             "allowRbac": true,
             "allowRoleDocumentLevelSecurity": true,
@@ -128,6 +132,7 @@ describe('license features', function () {
       allowRbac: true,
       allowSubFeaturePrivileges: false,
       allowAuditLogging: false,
+      allowLegacyAuditLogging: false,
     });
     expect(getFeatureSpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
     expect(getFeatureSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith('security');
@@ -153,12 +158,13 @@ describe('license features', function () {
       allowRbac: false,
       allowSubFeaturePrivileges: false,
       allowAuditLogging: false,
+      allowLegacyAuditLogging: false,
     });
   });
 
-  it('should allow role mappings, access agreement and sub-feature privileges, but not DLS/FLS if license = gold', () => {
+  it('should allow all basic features for standard license', () => {
     const mockRawLicense = licenseMock.createLicense({
-      license: { mode: 'gold', type: 'gold' },
+      license: { mode: 'standard', type: 'standard' },
       features: { security: { isEnabled: true, isAvailable: true } },
     });
 
@@ -170,19 +176,20 @@ describe('license features', function () {
       showLogin: true,
       allowLogin: true,
       showLinks: true,
-      showRoleMappingsManagement: true,
-      allowAccessAgreement: true,
+      showRoleMappingsManagement: false,
+      allowAccessAgreement: false,
       allowRoleDocumentLevelSecurity: false,
       allowRoleFieldLevelSecurity: false,
       allowRbac: true,
-      allowSubFeaturePrivileges: true,
-      allowAuditLogging: true,
+      allowSubFeaturePrivileges: false,
+      allowAuditLogging: false,
+      allowLegacyAuditLogging: true,
     });
   });
 
-  it('should allow to login, allow RBAC, role mappings, access agreement, sub-feature privileges, and DLS if license >= platinum', () => {
+  it('should allow role mappings, access agreement, sub-feature privileges and audit logging, but not DLS/FLS if license = gold', () => {
     const mockRawLicense = licenseMock.createLicense({
-      license: { mode: 'platinum', type: 'platinum' },
+      license: { mode: 'gold', type: 'gold' },
       features: { security: { isEnabled: true, isAvailable: true } },
     });
 
@@ -196,17 +203,18 @@ describe('license features', function () {
       showLinks: true,
       showRoleMappingsManagement: true,
       allowAccessAgreement: true,
-      allowRoleDocumentLevelSecurity: true,
-      allowRoleFieldLevelSecurity: true,
+      allowRoleDocumentLevelSecurity: false,
+      allowRoleFieldLevelSecurity: false,
       allowRbac: true,
       allowSubFeaturePrivileges: true,
       allowAuditLogging: true,
+      allowLegacyAuditLogging: true,
     });
   });
 
-  it('should allow all basic features + audit logging for standard license', () => {
+  it('should allow to login, allow RBAC, role mappings, access agreement, sub-feature privileges, and DLS if license >= platinum', () => {
     const mockRawLicense = licenseMock.createLicense({
-      license: { mode: 'standard', type: 'standard' },
+      license: { mode: 'platinum', type: 'platinum' },
       features: { security: { isEnabled: true, isAvailable: true } },
     });
 
@@ -218,13 +226,14 @@ describe('license features', function () {
       showLogin: true,
       allowLogin: true,
       showLinks: true,
-      showRoleMappingsManagement: false,
-      allowAccessAgreement: false,
-      allowRoleDocumentLevelSecurity: false,
-      allowRoleFieldLevelSecurity: false,
+      showRoleMappingsManagement: true,
+      allowAccessAgreement: true,
+      allowRoleDocumentLevelSecurity: true,
+      allowRoleFieldLevelSecurity: true,
       allowRbac: true,
-      allowSubFeaturePrivileges: false,
+      allowSubFeaturePrivileges: true,
       allowAuditLogging: true,
+      allowLegacyAuditLogging: true,
     });
   });
 });
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/security/common/licensing/license_service.ts b/x-pack/plugins/security/common/licensing/license_service.ts
index ca6366ef0bb8e..5930c17b928f2 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/security/common/licensing/license_service.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/security/common/licensing/license_service.ts
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ export class SecurityLicenseService {
         showRoleMappingsManagement: false,
         allowAccessAgreement: false,
         allowAuditLogging: false,
+        allowLegacyAuditLogging: false,
         allowRoleDocumentLevelSecurity: false,
         allowRoleFieldLevelSecurity: false,
         allowRbac: false,
@@ -98,6 +99,7 @@ export class SecurityLicenseService {
         showRoleMappingsManagement: false,
         allowAccessAgreement: false,
         allowAuditLogging: false,
+        allowLegacyAuditLogging: false,
         allowRoleDocumentLevelSecurity: false,
         allowRoleFieldLevelSecurity: false,
         allowRbac: false,
@@ -114,7 +116,8 @@ export class SecurityLicenseService {
       showLinks: true,
       showRoleMappingsManagement: isLicenseGoldOrBetter,
       allowAccessAgreement: isLicenseGoldOrBetter,
-      allowAuditLogging: isLicenseStandardOrBetter,
+      allowAuditLogging: isLicenseGoldOrBetter,
+      allowLegacyAuditLogging: isLicenseStandardOrBetter,
       allowSubFeaturePrivileges: isLicenseGoldOrBetter,
       // Only platinum and trial licenses are compliant with field- and document-level security.
       allowRoleDocumentLevelSecurity: isLicensePlatinumOrBetter,
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/security/server/audit/audit_service.test.ts b/x-pack/plugins/security/server/audit/audit_service.test.ts
index 2b5208368b031..a9c7668871248 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/security/server/audit/audit_service.test.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/security/server/audit/audit_service.test.ts
@@ -358,7 +358,7 @@ describe('#getLogger', () => {
 
     const licenseWithFeatures = licenseMock.create();
     licenseWithFeatures.features$ = new BehaviorSubject({
-      allowAuditLogging: true,
+      allowLegacyAuditLogging: true,
     } as SecurityLicenseFeatures).asObservable();
 
     const auditService = new AuditService(logger).setup({
@@ -388,7 +388,7 @@ describe('#getLogger', () => {
 
     const licenseWithFeatures = licenseMock.create();
     licenseWithFeatures.features$ = new BehaviorSubject({
-      allowAuditLogging: true,
+      allowLegacyAuditLogging: true,
     } as SecurityLicenseFeatures).asObservable();
 
     const auditService = new AuditService(logger).setup({
@@ -426,7 +426,7 @@ describe('#getLogger', () => {
 
     const licenseWithFeatures = licenseMock.create();
     licenseWithFeatures.features$ = new BehaviorSubject({
-      allowAuditLogging: false,
+      allowLegacyAuditLogging: false,
     } as SecurityLicenseFeatures).asObservable();
 
     const auditService = new AuditService(logger).setup({
@@ -452,7 +452,7 @@ describe('#getLogger', () => {
 
     const licenseWithFeatures = licenseMock.create();
     licenseWithFeatures.features$ = new BehaviorSubject({
-      allowAuditLogging: true,
+      allowLegacyAuditLogging: true,
     } as SecurityLicenseFeatures).asObservable();
 
     const auditService = new AuditService(logger).setup({
@@ -481,7 +481,7 @@ describe('#getLogger', () => {
     const licenseWithFeatures = licenseMock.create();
 
     const features$ = new BehaviorSubject({
-      allowAuditLogging: false,
+      allowLegacyAuditLogging: false,
     } as SecurityLicenseFeatures);
 
     licenseWithFeatures.features$ = features$.asObservable();
@@ -505,7 +505,7 @@ describe('#getLogger', () => {
 
     // perform license upgrade
     features$.next({
-      allowAuditLogging: true,
+      allowLegacyAuditLogging: true,
     } as SecurityLicenseFeatures);
 
     auditLogger.log(eventType, message);
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/security/server/audit/audit_service.ts b/x-pack/plugins/security/server/audit/audit_service.ts
index 1a55f769d22ba..8dbdc48c7dee9 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/security/server/audit/audit_service.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/security/server/audit/audit_service.ts
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ export class AuditService {
   /**
    * @deprecated
    */
-  private allowAuditLogging = false;
+  private allowLegacyAuditLogging = false;
 
   private ecsLogger: Logger;
 
@@ -87,9 +87,11 @@ export class AuditService {
     getSpaceId,
   }: AuditServiceSetupParams): AuditServiceSetup {
     if (config.enabled && !config.appender) {
-      this.licenseFeaturesSubscription = license.features$.subscribe(({ allowAuditLogging }) => {
-        this.allowAuditLogging = allowAuditLogging;
-      });
+      this.licenseFeaturesSubscription = license.features$.subscribe(
+        ({ allowLegacyAuditLogging }) => {
+          this.allowLegacyAuditLogging = allowLegacyAuditLogging;
+        }
+      );
     }
 
     // Configure logging during setup and when license changes
@@ -169,7 +171,7 @@ export class AuditService {
     const getLogger = (id?: string): LegacyAuditLogger => {
       return {
         log: (eventType: string, message: string, data?: Record<string, any>) => {
-          if (!this.allowAuditLogging) {
+          if (!this.allowLegacyAuditLogging) {
             return;
           }
 
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/security/server/routes/views/login.test.ts b/x-pack/plugins/security/server/routes/views/login.test.ts
index 11b2cdcac021b..e79420fa05daf 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/security/server/routes/views/login.test.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/security/server/routes/views/login.test.ts
@@ -173,6 +173,7 @@ describe('Login view routes', () => {
         showRoleMappingsManagement: true,
         allowSubFeaturePrivileges: true,
         allowAuditLogging: true,
+        allowLegacyAuditLogging: true,
         showLogin: true,
       });
 
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/security/server/usage_collector/security_usage_collector.test.ts b/x-pack/plugins/security/server/usage_collector/security_usage_collector.test.ts
index 80b7dd35e595c..e757ab8d59b8f 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/security/server/usage_collector/security_usage_collector.test.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/security/server/usage_collector/security_usage_collector.test.ts
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ describe('Security UsageCollector', () => {
     license.getFeatures.mockReturnValue({
       allowAccessAgreement,
       allowAuditLogging,
+      allowLegacyAuditLogging: allowAuditLogging,
       allowRbac,
     } as SecurityLicenseFeatures);
     return license;
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/security/server/usage_collector/security_usage_collector.ts b/x-pack/plugins/security/server/usage_collector/security_usage_collector.ts
index cf3c787e6b0db..64a586588648e 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/security/server/usage_collector/security_usage_collector.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/security/server/usage_collector/security_usage_collector.ts
@@ -75,7 +75,12 @@ export function registerSecurityUsageCollector({ usageCollection, config, licens
       },
     },
     fetch: () => {
-      const { allowRbac, allowAccessAgreement, allowAuditLogging } = license.getFeatures();
+      const {
+        allowRbac,
+        allowAccessAgreement,
+        allowAuditLogging,
+        allowLegacyAuditLogging,
+      } = license.getFeatures();
       if (!allowRbac) {
         return {
           auditLoggingEnabled: false,
@@ -87,7 +92,10 @@ export function registerSecurityUsageCollector({ usageCollection, config, licens
         };
       }
 
-      const auditLoggingEnabled = allowAuditLogging && config.audit.enabled;
+      const legacyAuditLoggingEnabled = allowLegacyAuditLogging && config.audit.enabled;
+      const auditLoggingEnabled =
+        allowAuditLogging && config.audit.enabled && config.audit.appender != null;
+
       const loginSelectorEnabled = config.authc.selector.enabled;
       const authProviderCount = config.authc.sortedProviders.length;
       const enabledAuthProviders = [
@@ -107,7 +115,7 @@ export function registerSecurityUsageCollector({ usageCollection, config, licens
       );
 
       return {
-        auditLoggingEnabled,
+        auditLoggingEnabled: legacyAuditLoggingEnabled || auditLoggingEnabled,
         loginSelectorEnabled,
         accessAgreementEnabled,
         authProviderCount,