Overview
This policy establishes clear and enforceable requirements for the generation, protection, review, and analysis of logs that capture key system and security events across the organization's IT environment.
Detect Threats in Real-Time
Enable anomaly detection and threat response through comprehensive, time-synchronized logging.
Accelerate Forensic Investigations
Ensure all critical events are recorded to support forensic analysis and incident response.
Achieve & Prove Compliance
Meet rigorous requirements from ISO 27001, GDPR, NIS2, DORA, and more to maintain audit readiness.
Protect Log Integrity
Implement controls to prevent log tampering, unauthorized deletion, or uncontrolled access to log data.
Read Full Overview
The Logging and Monitoring Policy is an integral component of a robust cybersecurity infrastructure, providing a systematic approach to capturing, protecting, and analyzing log data for all critical systems within an organization. This policy is designed to meet the rigorous demands of information security standards like ISO 27001, as well as regulatory frameworks such as GDPR, NIS2, and DORA. It ensures that all system-generated events, from user logins to system changes and security incidents, are accurately recorded, retained, and analyzed with synchronized timestamps for precise cross-system correlation. By implementing this policy, organizations can enhance their ability to detect unauthorized activities and support forensic investigations, thereby maintaining audit readiness and legal compliance. The policy mandates the use of centralized logging systems, such as Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) platforms, to aggregate and correlate logs, providing real-time alerts based on contextual behavior and thresholds. The policy also delineates roles and responsibilities across various departments, including the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), Security Operations Center (SOC) Manager, and IT Infrastructure teams, ensuring coordinated efforts in maintaining log integrity and security. This proactive approach to logging and monitoring supports continuous improvement and operational resilience, crucial for safeguarding against insider threats and external attacks. Comprehensive logging and monitoring provide peace of mind by ensuring that all critical events are visible and traceable, allowing for swift and informed responses to potential incidents. This policy not only enhances security measures but also fosters a culture of accountability and diligence across the organization, making it a cornerstone of effective cybersecurity governance.
What’s Inside
Roles and Responsibilities: Clear definitions for CISO, SOC, IT, Developers, and third parties.
Governance Requirements: Mandates for centralized SIEM, log protection, and audit trail registers.
Policy Implementation Requirements: Specific rules for log generation, collection, retention, and encryption.
Clock Synchronization (NTP Enforcement): Strict controls to ensure time-synchronized accuracy for cross-system correlation.
Risk Treatment and Exceptions: A formal process for managing systems with logging limitations, including mitigating controls.
Enforcement and Compliance: Clear consequences for non-compliance and processes for verification and audit.
Built for Leaders, By Leaders
This policy isn't just a template; it's an audit-defensible document crafted by seasoned cybersecurity leaders. Every clause is designed for practical implementation within complex enterprise environments, ensuring you can meet auditor requirements without disrupting operational workflows.
Framework Compliance
🛡️ Supported Standards & Frameworks
This product is aligned with the following compliance frameworks, with detailed clause and control mappings.
| Framework | Covered Clauses / Controls |
|---|---|
| ISO/IEC 27001:2022 | Clause 8.1 |
| ISO/IEC 27002:2022 | Controls 8.158.168.17 |
| NIST SP 800-53 Rev.5 | AU-2 to AU-12SI-4SC-45 |
| EU GDPR | Article 32 |
| EU NIS2 | Article 21(2)(e) |
| EU DORA | Articles 911 |
| COBIT 2019 | DSS01.05DSS05.04MEA03 |
Part of a Complete ISMS Toolkit
This policy is one of 37 documents in our complete toolkit, designed for comprehensive compliance.
100%
ISO 27001
95%
NIST CSF
88%
EU NIS2
75%
EU DORA
70%
EU GDPR
Related Policies
Establishes the foundational commitment to protect systems and data, under which logging and monitoring act as critical detective and response enablers.
Ensures that privileged access, user logins, and authorization events are captured in logs and monitored for abuse or anomalous behavior.
Mandates logging of system changes, patch deployments, and configuration updates that can introduce risk or unauthorized modifications.
Requires network-level logging (e.g., firewall logs, IDS/IPS alerts, VPN activity) and integration with SIEM for visibility into traffic anomalies and boundary defense.
Enforces clock consistency across systems, which is essential for reliable logging and correlation of security events across multiple environments.
Relies on log data and alerting mechanisms to identify, investigate, and respond to security incidents, while also preserving forensic artifacts.
About This Policy
The Clarysec Logging and Monitoring Policy provides a comprehensive framework for event logging, monitoring, and analysis across your entire IT environment. It establishes clear requirements for log generation, protection, and retention, ensuring your organization can effectively detect anomalies, respond to threats, and conduct forensic investigations. This policy is essential for achieving compliance with major standards like ISO 27001, NIST, GDPR, and DORA.
This policy applies to all systems, services, and infrastructure, including on-premises servers, cloud platforms (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS), and network appliances. It defines the responsibilities for IT operations, security teams (SOC), developers, and third-party providers, creating a cohesive strategy for maintaining log integrity and supporting audit readiness. By implementing these controls, you strengthen your security posture and ensure system-generated events are accurately recorded and correlated.
