Audit Logging Framework and Coordination Policy (SEC-POL-009)

1. Objective

The objective of this policy is to establish the comprehensive audit logging framework and coordination requirements for [Company Name]’s information systems to ensure security events are captured, protected, and analyzed in support of incident detection, forensic analysis, and regulatory compliance. This policy provides the overarching framework for audit logging and coordinates the specialized logging requirements defined in SEC-POL-010 (Authentication and Network Audit Logging Policy) and SEC-POL-011 (Data Access and Compliance Audit Logging Policy). This framework ensures that appropriate audit trails are maintained to support the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information assets and electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI) in compliance with HIPAA, HITECH, SOC 2, and HITRUST CSF v11.2.0 requirements.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all [Company Name] information systems, applications, network devices, security tools, and cloud services that process, store, or transmit company information or ePHI. This includes all production, staging, development, and administrative systems, as well as any third-party systems that process company data. All workforce members, contractors, and third parties with access to company systems are subject to the monitoring and logging requirements defined in this policy and its associated specialized policies SEC-POL-010 and SEC-POL-011.

3. Policy

  • [Company Name] shall implement comprehensive audit logging and monitoring capabilities across all information systems through a coordinated framework that integrates authentication and network security logging (SEC-POL-010) with data access and compliance logging (SEC-POL-011) to provide early detection of security incidents, support forensic analysis, and maintain compliance with regulatory requirements.

3.1 Audit Logging Framework Architecture

The audit logging framework shall provide comprehensive coverage across all system domains through specialized policies while maintaining centralized coordination and analysis capabilities.

3.1.1 Policy Integration and Coordination
  • Specialized Logging Domains:
    • SEC-POL-010 (Authentication and Network Audit Logging Policy): Comprehensive logging for user authentication, authorization, network security events, and system security activities
    • SEC-POL-011 (Data Access and Compliance Audit Logging Policy): Detailed logging for data access, ePHI handling, privacy controls, and regulatory compliance activities
    • Cross-policy coordination through common session identifiers, correlation mechanisms, and shared infrastructure
    • Unified incident response integration combining evidence from authentication, network, and data access domains
  • Framework Coordination Requirements:
    • Common log format standards and metadata requirements across all logging domains
    • Shared centralized logging infrastructure with integrated Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) platform
    • Coordinated retention policies and storage requirements aligned with regulatory and business needs
    • Integrated monitoring and alerting capabilities combining events from authentication, network, and data access domains
    • Unified reporting and compliance validation across all audit logging domains
3.1.2 Comprehensive Event Coverage

The audit logging framework shall ensure comprehensive coverage of all security-relevant events through specialized logging domains:

  • Authentication and Network Events (SEC-POL-010):
    • User authentication, authorization, and session management events
    • Network security events, traffic analysis, and communication monitoring
    • System security events, infrastructure monitoring, and privilege management
    • Integration with identity management systems and network security appliances
  • Data Access and Compliance Events (SEC-POL-011):
    • Electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI) and sensitive data access events
    • Regulatory compliance activities including HIPAA, SOC 2, and privacy regulation requirements
    • Data protection and privacy controls implementation and monitoring
    • Data lifecycle management including retention, disposal, and privacy rights fulfillment

3.2 Centralized Log Management Framework

Comprehensive log management processes shall ensure the integrity, availability, and appropriate retention of audit information across all logging domains.

3.2.1 Unified Log Collection and Storage
  • Centralized Infrastructure Requirements:
    • All systems shall forward security-relevant logs to centralized Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system supporting both SEC-POL-010 and SEC-POL-011 requirements
    • Log transmission shall use encrypted channels (TLS 1.3 or equivalent) to protect log data in transit
    • Redundant log collection paths shall be implemented for critical systems across all logging domains
    • Real-time log forwarding required for security events classified as Critical or High priority
    • Backup log storage at local systems for minimum [Duration, e.g., 7 days] to ensure continuity during network outages
  • Integrated Storage and Retention:
    • Security audit logs shall be retained for minimum [Duration, e.g., 7 years] to support regulatory compliance across all domains
    • ePHI access logs shall be retained for minimum [Duration, e.g., 6 years] per HIPAA requirements as detailed in SEC-POL-011
    • Authentication and network logs shall be retained per SEC-POL-010 requirements with coordination for incident investigation
    • Archive logs shall be stored in immutable storage systems where technically feasible
    • Legal hold procedures shall supersede standard retention periods when litigation is anticipated
3.2.2 Cross-Domain Event Correlation
  • Event Integration and Analysis:
    • Automated correlation of authentication events from SEC-POL-010 with data access events from SEC-POL-011
    • Session identifier and transaction correlation across all logging domains
    • Timeline reconstruction capabilities integrating evidence from authentication, network, and data access logs
    • Behavioral analysis combining user authentication patterns with data access activities
    • Threat intelligence integration across all event types and logging domains

3.3 Log Protection and Integrity Framework

Audit logs across all domains shall be protected against unauthorized access, modification, and deletion to maintain their evidentiary value through coordinated security controls.

3.3.1 Unified Access Controls
  • Framework-Wide Access Management:
    • Role-based access control with principle of least privilege across all logging domains
    • Separate administrative accounts for log system management with multi-factor authentication
    • Coordinated access reviews for all log system administrators across SEC-POL-010 and SEC-POL-011 domains
    • Cross-domain access logging and monitoring for administrative activities
    • Integration with identity management systems for centralized access control
3.3.2 Integrated Integrity Protection
  • Cross-Domain Integrity Controls:
    • Cryptographic hashing (SHA-256 or stronger) for log file integrity verification across all domains
    • Digital signatures for critical audit logs using approved PKI infrastructure
    • Tamper detection mechanisms with automated alerting for all log sources
    • Write-once storage technologies for immutable log preservation
    • Coordinated integrity verification procedures and reporting across authentication, network, and data access logs

3.4 Coordinated Monitoring and Analysis Framework

Continuous monitoring and analysis of audit logs shall provide early detection of security incidents through integrated analysis across all logging domains.

3.4.1 Unified Real-Time Monitoring
  • Integrated Monitoring Capabilities:
    • 24/7 automated monitoring of all security-relevant log sources from SEC-POL-010 and SEC-POL-011 domains
    • Real-time correlation of events across authentication, network, and data access domains
    • Machine learning and behavioral analysis for cross-domain anomaly detection
    • Threat intelligence integration for all event types and logging domains
    • Automated response capabilities for predefined security scenarios across all domains
3.4.2 Comprehensive Analysis and Reporting
  • Framework-Wide Analysis:
    • Daily review of high-priority security alerts and events from all logging domains
    • Weekly trend analysis and security metrics reporting across authentication, network, and data access activities
    • Monthly comprehensive security posture assessment integrating all audit log sources
    • Quarterly log analysis program effectiveness review across all specialized logging policies
    • Annual audit log retention and disposal review coordinated across all domains
  • Integrated Compliance Reporting:
    • Automated generation of compliance reports combining evidence from SEC-POL-010 and SEC-POL-011
    • Executive dashboard with key security metrics from all logging domains
    • Unified regulatory reporting supporting HIPAA, SOC 2, and HITRUST requirements
    • Cross-domain exception reports for policy violations and security events
    • Coordinated audit evidence collection and presentation

3.5 Integrated Incident Response Framework

Audit logs from all domains shall provide comprehensive support for security incident detection, investigation, and response activities through coordinated evidence collection and analysis.

3.5.1 Cross-Domain Incident Detection
  • Unified Detection Capabilities:
    • Automated correlation rules combining authentication events from SEC-POL-010 with data access events from SEC-POL-011
    • Baseline deviation detection across user authentication, network behavior, and data access patterns
    • Advanced persistent threat (APT) detection through cross-domain log analysis
    • Insider threat detection through integrated privilege, authentication, and data access monitoring
    • Integration with external threat intelligence sources across all logging domains
3.5.2 Coordinated Response Support
  • Integrated Evidence Collection:
    • Rapid log search and analysis capabilities across authentication, network, and data access domains
    • Automated evidence collection and preservation procedures coordinating SEC-POL-010 and SEC-POL-011 sources
    • Timeline reconstruction capabilities integrating all logging domains for comprehensive incident analysis
    • Chain of custody procedures for multi-domain log-based evidence
    • Integration with legal hold and eDiscovery processes across all audit log sources

3.6 Performance and Capacity Management Framework

Log management systems shall be monitored and maintained to ensure adequate performance and capacity across all logging domains.

3.6.1 Unified Performance Monitoring
  • Framework-Wide Performance Metrics:
    • Real-time monitoring of log ingestion rates and processing delays across all domains
    • Storage capacity monitoring with automated alerting for space constraints
    • System performance metrics for search and analysis capabilities across SEC-POL-010 and SEC-POL-011 requirements
    • Network bandwidth utilization for log transmission from all sources
    • Regular performance testing and optimization procedures for integrated logging infrastructure
3.6.2 Coordinated Capacity Planning
  • Integrated Capacity Management:
    • Annual capacity planning based on business growth and data volume projections across all logging domains
    • Scalability testing for peak load scenarios including authentication surges and data access patterns
    • Archive and disposal procedures for managing storage growth across all log types
    • Cost optimization through data lifecycle management coordinated across SEC-POL-010 and SEC-POL-011 requirements
    • Disaster recovery planning for log management systems supporting all specialized logging domains

4. Standards Compliance

See Annex: Control Mapping

4.2 Policy Coordination References

This framework policy coordinates with specialized logging policies to ensure comprehensive compliance coverage:

  • SEC-POL-010: Authentication and network security logging requirements including identity management, network communications, and system security events
  • SEC-POL-011: Data access and compliance logging requirements including ePHI handling, privacy controls, and regulatory compliance activities
  • Cross-Policy Compliance: Integrated compliance reporting and evidence collection across all logging domains

5. Definitions

See Annex: Glossary

6. Responsibilities

Role Responsibility
Security Officer Overall responsibility for audit logging framework coordination and integration of SEC-POL-010 and SEC-POL-011 requirements.
IT Security Team Implementation and daily management of centralized logging infrastructure supporting all specialized logging domains.
System Administrators Configuration of unified log forwarding and maintenance of shared logging infrastructure across all domains.
Compliance Team Coordination of compliance requirements across authentication, network, and data access logging domains.
Incident Response Team Utilization of integrated audit logs from all domains for comprehensive incident investigation and evidence collection.
Legal Team Legal hold procedures and retention requirement coordination across all logging domains.
Privacy Officer Coordination of privacy and ePHI logging requirements between framework and specialized policies.
All Workforce Members Compliance with coordinated logging policies and prompt reporting of suspected security events across all domains.