CIS Control 8.1: Establish and Maintain an Audit Log Management Process
Audit logs are your organization's digital memory—without a formal management process, you're flying blind during investigations and compliance audits. CIS Control 8.1 requires you to define, document, and continuously maintain a centralized logging strategy that captures, reviews, and retains logs across all enterprise assets. This foundation enables threat detection, forensics, and regulatory compliance.
What this means
CIS Control 8.1 mandates establishing a documented audit log management process that covers three core functions: collection (aggregating logs from all enterprise systems), review (analyzing logs for anomalies and incidents), and retention (storing logs according to compliance and business requirements). Your documentation must be updated at least annually or whenever significant infrastructure, application, or policy changes occur that affect logging scope or sensitivity.
How to comply
- 1.Define logging requirements across all enterprise assets, specifying which systems, applications, and network devices must log activities
- 2.Document collection standards including log aggregation methods, centralized storage solutions, and data transmission security
- 3.Establish review procedures that detail frequency, responsibility, and escalation paths for log analysis and incident response
- 4.Set retention schedules based on regulatory requirements, industry standards, and business needs—typically 90 days to 7+ years depending on log type
- 5.Assign ownership and accountability for the audit log management process, including backup and disaster recovery procedures
- 6.Schedule annual documentation reviews and update processes whenever infrastructure, compliance obligations, or threat landscape changes
Evidence auditors look for
- Documented audit log management policy signed by management with defined scope and responsibilities
- Log collection architecture diagram showing which systems feed into centralized logging platform
- Retention schedule matrix mapping log types to retention periods and deletion procedures
- Evidence of annual policy review meetings with dated sign-off from responsible parties
- Log aggregation tool configuration showing active collection from enterprise assets
- Change log showing policy updates triggered by system migrations, new applications, or regulatory changes
Frequently asked questions
When will FAQs be available?
The FAQ for this control is currently being prepared.
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