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What are system logs?

A system log is a record of everything that happens on a computer. It keeps track of things like when someone logs in or out, when a program starts or stops running, or when there is an error or problem with the computer.

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How does it helps increase cybersecurity level? 

System logs are important because they help us understand what is happening on a computer. When something goes wrong, we can look at the system log to see what happened and try to fix it. They can also be used to help protect the computer system from cyber attacks.

To help protect a computer system, it is important to keep the system log safe and secure. This means making sure that only authorized people have access to it and keeping it backed up in case something happens to the computer. It is also important to make sure that the computer has good security software installed, like antivirus and firewalls, to help prevent cyber attacks.

Identify

Logs can help identify suspicious or malicious activity. By reviewing logs, security teams can identify patterns of activity that are unusual or abnormal. For example, they may see repeated attempts to access sensitive data or unauthorized changes to system configurations.

Trace

Logs can help identify the source of a cybersecurity incident. By reviewing logs from different systems, security teams can trace the path of an attack and identify the point of entry. This can help them understand how the attacker gained access and take steps to prevent similar attacks in the future.

Investigate

Logs can help with incident response. When a cybersecurity incident occurs, logs can provide valuable information about what happened and how the system was affected. This information can help security teams quickly contain the incident and restore normal operations.

Compliance

Logs can help with compliance. Many regulations require companies to keep logs for a certain period of time and review them regularly. By demonstrating compliance with these regulations, companies can improve their cybersecurity posture and avoid penalties for non-compliance.

Faster incident response 

Organisations with a formal incident response plan and the ability to quickly access relevant data were able to contain a breach in an average of 27 days, compared to 70 days for those without a plan. But how? 

Providing visibility into system activity

Logs can provide a comprehensive view of system activity, making it easier to identify security incidents. 

Supporting regulatory compliance

Logs can be used to demonstrate compliance with regulatory requirements, reducing the time and effort required for compliance audits. 

Identifying the source of attack

Logs offer helps to identify the source of attacks, making it easier to block the attacker and prevent further damage. 

Enabling faster recovery from incidents 

By providing insights in to the scope of attacks, logs can help organisations recover more quickly from security incidents. 

Facility incident reconstruction 

By analysing logs, security teams can reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to a security incident, which can be useful for identifying the root cause. 

Supporting incident analysis and reporting 

Logs can be used to generate reports on incidents, providing valuable insight that can be used to improve incident response processes. 

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