Establish and Maintain an Audit Log Management Process
Description
Establish and maintain an audit log management process that defines the enterprise’s logging requirements. At a minimum, address the collection, review, and retention of audit logs for enterprise assets. Review and update documentation annually, or when significant enterprise changes occur that could impact this Safeguard.
Implementation Checklist
Tool Recommendations
SIEM platform with log management, threat detection, investigation, and compliance reporting across enterprise data sources
Cisco (Splunk) · Ingest-based or workload-based
Cloud-native SIEM and SOAR with AI-driven analytics, automated threat response, and native Azure/M365 integration
Microsoft · Pay-as-you-go (per GB ingested)
High-performance log management and observability platform designed for petabyte-scale data with real-time search
CrowdStrike · Per-GB subscription
Threats & Vulnerabilities (CIS RAM)
Threat Scenarios
Undetected Persistent Threats Due to Inconsistent Logging
ConfidentialityAdvanced persistent threat actors operate undetected for months because the organization has no standardized logging requirements, leaving critical assets without the audit trails needed to identify malicious activity.
Failed Incident Investigation from Incomplete Log Coverage
IntegrityWhen a breach is discovered, incident responders cannot determine the scope, root cause, or timeline because the audit log management process was never defined, resulting in inconsistent and incomplete log collection across systems.
Regulatory Penalties for Inadequate Audit Logging Program
AvailabilityRegulatory audits reveal that the organization has no formal audit log management process, resulting in compliance violations under SOX, HIPAA, PCI DSS, or GDPR that require documented logging standards and retention policies.
Vulnerabilities (When Safeguard Absent)
No Documented Logging Policy Defining Collection Requirements
The organization lacks a formal policy specifying which assets must generate logs, what events must be captured, how logs are reviewed, and how long they are retained, resulting in ad-hoc logging that varies widely across systems.
Undefined Log Review Responsibilities and Procedures
Without a documented audit log management process, no one is responsible for reviewing logs, and no procedures exist for escalating suspicious findings, allowing malicious activity captured in logs to go unnoticed.
Evidence Requirements
| Type | Evidence Item | Collection Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Technical | Configuration screenshots or exports showing protection controls enabled | Captured quarterly |
| Document | Procedure documentation for protection measures | Reviewed annually |
| Technical | SIEM dashboard showing log sources and collection status | Captured monthly |
| Record | Log review records and findings | Per review cycle |
| Document | Governing policy document (current, approved, communicated) | Reviewed annually |