Logging and monitoring involves the systematic recording of system events, user activities, and security-relevant occurrences, combined with the real-time or near-real-time analysis of those records. This practice is essential for detecting anomalies, identifying potential security breaches, and maintaining an audit trail that supports forensic investigations and regulatory compliance.
Effective logging and monitoring programmes typically feed into a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system that correlates events across multiple sources. Regulatory frameworks including GDPR, NIS2, and ISO 27001 require organisations to maintain adequate logs and demonstrate they are actively reviewed, making this a critical component of any information security management system.