Framework: The Center for Internet Security (CIS) Top 18 Controls

Safeguard 8.1 requires organizations to establish and maintain a documented process for audit log management, defining the collection, review, and retention of event data across enterprise assets. This safeguard ensures that every system capable of generating logs has logging features enabled and configured according to policy. Logging should capture significant security events such as authentication attempts, privilege changes, configuration modifications, and data access. These records form the foundation of situational awareness, allowing defenders to reconstruct incidents, detect anomalies, and verify compliance. Without comprehensive logging, even advanced detection tools operate in the dark, as they depend on accurate event data to recognize malicious activity. Enabling audit logging is therefore one of the most critical first steps in building any effective detection and response capability.

Implementation requires coordination across infrastructure, application, and cloud teams. Logging settings must be standardized to prevent gaps or inconsistencies, and collection points should funnel data into a centralized system or SIEM platform. Logs should be timestamped using synchronized clocks and stored securely to prevent tampering. Enterprises must also define retention periods appropriate to business and regulatory requirements—commonly 90 days for immediate access and up to one year for archival purposes. Automated tools can monitor log integrity and alert administrators to sudden drops in log volume, which may indicate misconfiguration or tampering attempts. Enabling logging across all assets transforms network activity into a continuous stream of telemetry, converting previously invisible actions into traceable, measurable data. Safeguard 8.1 thus establishes the foundation for visibility, accountability, and proactive defense throughout the enterprise ecosystem.
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