FRAMEWORKS AND STANDARDS
Control 08: Audit Log Management
A summary about data protection and management
Published Date: October 29th, 2024
Product Line: CIS Controls
Audience: Executives, Security Administrators, Data Management Personnel
Get your copy of the CIS Controls V8.1 here.
Overview
Audit log management involves the continuous collection, review, and retention of event logs across systems and applications, allowing organizations to respond swiftly to malicious activities. Event logs provide insight into activities executed on a system and are essential for detecting, understanding, and recovering from cybersecurity incidents.
Why is this control critical?
Logs often contain the only available evidence of malicious activity, as attackers frequently attempt to erase traces of their actions. Regular audit log collection and analysis provide critical insight into potential threats, allowing organizations to detect abnormal behavior early and take action before further damage occurs. Logs are also invaluable for investigating the root causes of security incidents and for meeting regulatory compliance requirements.
Key Techniques for Audit Log Management
Establish a Logging Strategy: Define clear requirements for audit logs, including which events to log, log review frequency, and retention policies. This strategy ensures comprehensive coverage and aligns logging practices with organizational security goals.
Enable Detailed Logging: Activate logging features on all enterprise assets, particularly for sensitive systems. Audit logs should capture event types, user actions, source and destination addresses, and time stamps for in-depth forensic analysis.
Centralize Log Management: Centralize the collection of audit logs from all enterprise systems to streamline analysis. Centralized logging simplifies correlation, analysis, and storage management.
Standardize Time Synchronization: Ensure time sources are synchronized across enterprise assets for consistent timestamps in logs. Consistency aids in tracking events accurately across multiple systems.
Enhanced Protection Techniques
- Retain Logs for 90 Days or Longer: Validate logs are retained for a minimum of 90 days. Extended retention periods support investigation and compliance needs, allowing sufficient time for log review after an incident.
- Regular Log Review: Conduct routine reviews of audit logs to identify anomalies or unusual patterns. Weekly reviews improve overall threat response and help detect potential issues before they escalate.
- Collect and Store Service Provider Logs: If utilizing third-party services, collect logs related to authentication, data creation, and disposal events. Integrating service provider logs enhances visibility across all connected systems.