Audit trail_Event viewer

Question

If personnel involved in operation of system, the audit trail shall still be able to display all original information even if user is not available in the system?

Answer 1

In short , yes, an audit trail in a system should still be able to display all original information, even if the user involved in the operation is not available or has logged out of the system. The purpose of an audit trail is to track all actions and changes made to the system, including who performed the action, what action was taken, and when it occurred. This ensures that there is a permanent, unalterable record of activity for purposes such as security, compliance, and troubleshooting.

1. Audit Trails Are Independent of User Availability
   • Audit trails are generally stored in a log file or a separate database that is designed to be persistent and tamper-proof. These logs typically include detailed information about each event, including:
     • User ID (or system-generated ID)
     • Action taken (e.g., file access, modification, deletion)
     • Timestamp of the action
     • Details of the change (e.g., data modified, file accessed)
   • These logs are usually not dependent on the user's session or whether they are currently logged in. Even if the user logs out or becomes unavailable, the actions they took while logged in are still recorded in the audit trail.
2. Audit Trail Persistence
   • Persistent Storage: The audit logs are stored in a way that ensures their integrity, meaning they can't be easily altered or deleted by regular users. Many systems ensure that audit trail data is stored separately from operational data, making it harder to manipulate.
   • Time Stamps: Since audit logs are timestamped, it is easy to track when a particular action was performed, even if the user is no longer logged into the system at the time of reviewing the logs.
3. Security and Compliance Considerations
   • Non-repudiation: One of the key goals of an audit trail is non-repudiation, which means that the user cannot deny having performed an action. By logging every action, the system ensures that there is always a record of what happened, even if the user who performed the action is no longer available or present.
   • Compliance with Regulations: In regulated environments (e.g., healthcare, finance), audit trails are crucial for meeting legal and compliance requirements. These trails often need to be accessible for auditing purposes, even if the original user is unavailable.
4. Access Control and Log Review
   • Even if a user is no longer active, system administrators or authorized personnel with the appropriate permissions can review the audit logs. They can trace back any changes or actions performed, identify which user was involved, and determine the exact nature of the activity.
5. Event Logging in Windows
   • In Windows environments, Event Viewer is often used to view system logs, which include audit trails for various system activities. You can enable auditing policies that track specific actions, like logons, file access, and system changes.
   • The logs are stored in a log file and can be reviewed even if the user is no longer logged in. You can set up security auditing policies to capture all necessary data, which is then recorded in event logs.

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hth

Marcin