Comprehensive Audit Log Requirements

This question asks if your system keeps detailed records of who's doing what and when. Like security cameras for your software, audit logs need to capture every login, logout, what users did while logged in, and where they connected from (IP address). These logs are the evidence trail used to investigate security incidents or prove compliance during audits.

Comprehensive audit logs are mandatory for compliance with SOC 2, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and most enterprise security requirements. Without them, you can't detect breaches, investigate incidents, or prove compliance during audits. Poor logging can mean the difference between catching a breach in hours versus months, potentially saving millions in damages. Audit logs also protect you legally by providing evidence of proper security practices and helping identify insider threats before they cause damage.

Many systems log logins but miss logouts, making it impossible to determine session duration during investigations. Another common failure is logging actions without sufficient detail - recording 'user updated record' instead of 'user X changed field Y from A to B'. Teams often forget to log failed attempts and errors, which are crucial for detecting attacks in progress.