Event Log Monitoring For Regulatory Compliance

By Author: carina coronel
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The use of Event Log Management Software

Event Log Management involves logging and monitoring the events on various systems in an IT infrastructure. The monitoring and logging of these events is done with the help of event log management software. These days System Administrators are demanded to take precise measures to ensure high levels of security over critical enterprise assets. With event log software administrators can gain better insight into internal and external security threats and also meet regulatory compliance requirements.

What exactly does event log monitoring software do?

Event Log monitoring software tracks down changes in an organizations IT infrastructure. This is done through logs, which get created from various devices such as a switch, router or server. To be prepared for compliance audit an organization must provide logs that are accurate and confirmable. These logs should include events such as failed log attempts, miss typed password attempts, tracking of objects, privilege access and device failure. Without these logs, your organization will most likely not pass a full scale compliance ...
... audit. Also without logging and monitoring for such events you will be unable to verify security on the devices in your organization.

Today, system administrators and Chief Information Officers are under high pressure to record and create documentable IT information. Event log managers are a crucial tool in providing this type of data. There are many devices that create different types of log files (syslog, windows event logs, IIS, web server logs). To manage these events there are several different tools available, some are designed for a specific log and others can view many log types.

Managing the event logs in the Health Sector

Event Log Management particularly plays a crucial role for those public companies in the health sector. This is due to the various strict rules set forth by Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). These agencies require public companies and even those which are handling personal health information, to monitor or retain event logs.

Features of Event Log Management Software

The earlier versions of event log monitoring software where limited in its features. They basically had one function and that was to record events from devices to a log file. The new versions however, have came a long way and contain handful of features. These features include; real time alerting, log rotation, change tracking, scheduling, filtering, and reporting. One of the features that can be most helpful is the real time alerting feature. This can provide an administrator with an instant notification via email or text message if there has been a security breach. Most event log monitoring software will let you watch for any event such as an account being deleted or many failed password attempts in a row. This feature is crucial since the majority of company violations come from inside the network.

For the purpose of IT auditors that most significant feature in event log management is the ability to produce authentic logs. Most compliance auditors require event log data to be generated straight from the application. This is to ensure that the logs have not been tampered with or manipulated in any way.

The risk of not monitoring event logs

It is crucial for organizations to observe the compliance audit rules since non-compliance regulatory standards can result in severe penalties. Organizations can expect large penalties for not being in compliance. Due to the penalties and risks regulatory compliance has become the topmost priority for most IT managers. Event Log Management Software enables them to meet the rules and regulations of compliance audits. It also allows an organization to ensure security on its assets and be held accountable.

Event log management software gives a system administrator the ability to monitor changes in an organizations IT infrastructure. For those organizations concerned with their data's security event log monitoring is a must. Various applications have been created to monitor the wide range of event logs that exist today. One of the most significant features is the ability to provide real time notifications of certain event logs.

Having troubles tracking events logs or meeting regulatory compliance? I know it's not the most fun task and can often mean lots of extra hours of work, but if you really want to monitor the event logs you'll need to learn a few methods that will make your life as a system administrator much easier. These methods are simple and it doesn't take much practice, you can find tips and a listing of event log monitoring software here: Event Log Management. Don't give up yet, it's really easy. Learn more about Network Monitoring Software by clicking the link.