Comprehensive List of Event Types Recorded in Audit Logs

A detailed overview of activities tracked for security, compliance, and system monitoring.

Key Takeaways

Authentication and Authorization: Audit logs meticulously record user login attempts, password changes, and access permissions, crucial for identifying unauthorized access and potential security breaches.
Data and System Integrity: Logs track modifications to files, databases, and system configurations, ensuring data integrity and providing a clear trail for troubleshooting and compliance.
Security and Compliance: Audit logs are essential for detecting security incidents, monitoring compliance with regulations, and providing evidence for audits, helping organizations maintain a secure and compliant environment.

Detailed Event Types in Audit Logs

Audit logs are essential for maintaining the security, integrity, and compliance of systems and applications. They provide a detailed record of activities, allowing organizations to monitor access, identify suspicious behavior, analyze user actions, and ensure adherence to industry regulations. These logs capture a wide range of events, from user authentication to system configuration changes, offering a comprehensive view of system activities. Below is an in-depth exploration of the various event types commonly recorded in audit logs.

Authentication and Authorization Events

These events are fundamental for tracking user access and ensuring that only authorized individuals can access systems and resources. They provide a clear picture of who is attempting to log in, whether they are successful, and what permissions they have.

Successful Logon: Records when a user successfully logs into a system or application. This is a basic but crucial event for tracking user activity.
Failed Logon: Tracks unsuccessful login attempts, which can indicate potential security threats such as brute-force attacks or compromised credentials.
Logoff: Records when a user logs out of a system, providing a complete picture of user session activity.
Password Changes: Tracks changes to user passwords, including when a user initiates a password reset or an administrator changes a password.
Account Lockouts: Records when a user account is locked due to multiple failed login attempts, helping to prevent unauthorized access.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Events: Includes enrollment, approvals, and denials related to MFA, providing an extra layer of security tracking.
Session Timeouts or Terminations: Records when user sessions are automatically terminated due to inactivity or other reasons.
Access Granted: Records when a user is granted access to a specific resource, such as a file, application, or database.
Access Denied: Tracks when a user is denied access to a resource, which can indicate unauthorized access attempts or misconfigured permissions.
Privilege Escalation: Records when a user gains elevated permissions or privileges, which should be closely monitored for potential security risks.
Changes to User Roles, Group Memberships, or Permissions: Tracks modifications to user roles, group memberships, and permissions, ensuring that access controls are properly maintained.
Permission or Access Request Approvals/Denials: Records the approval or denial of user requests for access to specific resources.

User Account Management Events

These events track changes to user accounts, ensuring that user identities are properly managed and that unauthorized accounts are not created or used.

Creation of New User Accounts: Records when a new user account is created, including details about the user and the creation process.
Deletion or Deactivation of User Accounts: Tracks when user accounts are deleted or deactivated, ensuring that former employees or unauthorized users no longer have access.
Changes to User Attributes: Records changes to user attributes such as name, email address, or department, ensuring that user information is accurate and up-to-date.
Temporary Access Privilege Assignments (and Revocations): Tracks the assignment and revocation of temporary access privileges, ensuring that users only have access to resources for the necessary duration.
Monitoring of Dormant or Inactive Accounts: Records when accounts are identified as dormant or inactive, which can help identify potential security risks or unused resources.

System and Configuration Changes

These events track changes to the system's configuration, ensuring that unauthorized modifications are detected and that the system remains secure and stable.

Operating System Updates or Configurations: Records updates or changes to the operating system, which can impact system security and stability.
Installation or Uninstallation of Software or Plugins: Tracks the installation or uninstallation of software or plugins, which can introduce vulnerabilities or impact system performance.
Changes to System Configurations or Settings: Records changes to system configurations or settings, which can affect system behavior and security.
Security Policy Configuration Changes: Tracks changes to security policies, ensuring that security measures are properly maintained and enforced.
Firewall or Network Setting Changes: Records changes to firewall rules or network settings, which can impact network security and connectivity.
Hardware Modifications or Resource Allocations: Tracks changes to hardware or resource allocations, such as adding CPU or RAM in virtual environments.

File or Data Access Events

These events track access to files and data, ensuring that sensitive information is protected and that unauthorized access is detected.

File or Folder Creation, Modification, or Deletion: Records when files or folders are created, modified, or deleted, providing a clear audit trail of data changes.
Access to Sensitive Files or Directories: Tracks access to sensitive files or directories, ensuring that only authorized users can access this information.
Sharing or Transfer of Files: Records when files are shared or transferred, which can help prevent data leaks or unauthorized distribution.
Exporting, Downloading, or Printing Data: Tracks when data is exported, downloaded, or printed, which can help prevent data breaches or unauthorized use.
Unauthorized Access Attempts to Files: Records attempts to access files without proper authorization, which can indicate potential security threats.
Encryption or Decryption Activities: Tracks encryption or decryption activities, ensuring that data is properly protected and that unauthorized decryption is detected.
Use of Removable Storage Devices: Records the use of removable storage devices, such as USB drives, which can be a potential source of data leaks or malware infections.
Database Queries: Tracks queries made to a database, including read and write operations, providing a clear audit trail of data access and modifications.
Record Views: Records when database records are viewed, ensuring that access to sensitive information is tracked.
Data Downloads: Tracks when data is downloaded from a database, which can help prevent data breaches or unauthorized use.

Network and Communication Events

These events track network activity, ensuring that unauthorized connections and communications are detected.

Connections to External Networks or Devices: Records connections to external networks or devices, which can indicate potential security risks or unauthorized access.
IP Address Changes: Tracks changes to IP addresses, which can help identify suspicious network activity.
Unusual Data Transfer Volumes: Records unusual data transfer volumes, which can indicate potential data breaches or malicious activity.
Use of Prohibited Protocols: Tracks the use of prohibited protocols, which can indicate security policy violations.
DNS Requests and Responses: Records DNS requests and responses, which can help identify malicious activity or network issues.
Remote Desktop or SSH Login Activities: Tracks remote desktop or SSH login activities, which can indicate potential unauthorized access.
Ports Opening or Closing: Records when ports are opened or closed, which can impact network security and connectivity.
Network Connection Attempts: Records attempts to establish network connections, which can help identify unauthorized access attempts.
Network Traffic: Tracks data packets transmitted over the network, providing a detailed view of network activity.
VPN Access: Records when users connect or disconnect from a VPN, ensuring that remote access is properly tracked.

Application and Feature Usage

These events track how applications and their features are used, ensuring that applications are used properly and that unauthorized access is detected.

Login and Logout Activities in Specific Applications: Records login and logout activities in specific applications, providing a clear audit trail of application usage.
Creation, Modification, or Deletion of Records in Applications: Tracks the creation, modification, or deletion of records within applications, ensuring that data changes are properly tracked.
Workflow Activities: Records workflow activities, such as process approvals, ensuring that business processes are followed correctly.
API Calls and Responses: Tracks API calls and responses, providing a detailed view of application interactions.
Use of Advanced or Restricted Application Features: Records the use of advanced or restricted application features, ensuring that these features are used properly and that unauthorized access is detected.
License Activation or Deactivation for Applications: Tracks the activation or deactivation of application licenses, ensuring that licenses are properly managed.
Application Start/Stop: Records when an application is started or stopped, providing a clear view of application availability.
Transaction Logs: Tracks financial or business transactions within an application, ensuring that transactions are properly recorded and audited.

Security and Incident Monitoring

These events track security incidents and potential threats, ensuring that security breaches are detected and addressed promptly.

Detection of Malware or Viruses: Records the detection of malware or viruses, ensuring that security threats are identified and addressed.
Intrusion Detection System (IDS) and Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) Events: Tracks events generated by IDS and IPS systems, providing a detailed view of potential security threats.
Firewall Rule Triggers: Records when firewall rules are triggered, which can indicate potential security threats or policy violations.
Unauthorized Access Attempts Flagged by the System: Tracks unauthorized access attempts flagged by the system, ensuring that security breaches are detected and addressed.
Security Scans or Penetration Tests: Records security scans or penetration tests, providing a view of system vulnerabilities and security posture.
Tampering or Changes to Security Logs: Tracks tampering or changes to security logs, which can indicate malicious activity or attempts to cover up security breaches.
Denial-of-Service (DoS) or Other Attack Activities: Records DoS or other attack activities, ensuring that security threats are detected and addressed.

Database Query and Transactions

These events track database activities, ensuring that database access and modifications are properly monitored.

Read, Write, and Delete Operations on Database Records: Records read, write, and delete operations on database records, providing a clear audit trail of data changes.
Execution of Administrative Queries: Tracks the execution of administrative queries, ensuring that database administration activities are properly monitored.
Database Schema Changes: Records changes to the database schema, such as table creation or deletion, ensuring that database structure changes are properly tracked.
Connection Attempts to the Database: Tracks connection attempts to the database, both successful and failed, ensuring that database access is properly monitored.
Disruptive or Resource-Intensive Queries: Records disruptive or resource-intensive queries, which can impact database performance and availability.

System Performance and Resource Monitoring

These events track system performance and resource usage, ensuring that system issues are detected and addressed promptly.

High CPU, Memory, or Disk Usage Alerts: Records alerts for high CPU, memory, or disk usage, which can indicate system performance issues or potential problems.
Crashes or Unplanned System Shutdowns: Tracks system crashes or unplanned shutdowns, ensuring that system issues are detected and addressed.
Server Reboots or Uptime Events: Records server reboots or uptime events, providing a view of system availability and stability.
Application Performance Monitoring Logs: Tracks application performance monitoring logs, providing a view of application performance and potential issues.
Disk Space Warnings or Threshold Breaches: Records disk space warnings or threshold breaches, ensuring that disk space issues are detected and addressed.

Compliance and Regulatory Logging

These events track compliance with regulations and policies, ensuring that organizations adhere to legal and regulatory requirements.

Export of Compliance-Specific Reports: Records the export of compliance-specific reports, ensuring that compliance activities are properly tracked.
Events Related to Adherence to Frameworks: Tracks events related to adherence to frameworks such as HIPAA, GDPR, CCPA, and PCI-DSS, ensuring that organizations comply with relevant regulations.
Evidence of Audit Trails Required by External Audits: Records evidence of audit trails required by external audits, ensuring that organizations can demonstrate compliance.
Tampering of Compliance-Related Records: Tracks tampering of compliance-related records, which can indicate potential security breaches or attempts to cover up non-compliance.
Policy Violations: Tracks violations of organizational policies or regulatory requirements, ensuring that compliance issues are detected and addressed.
Audit Log Access: Records when audit logs are accessed or exported, ensuring that audit log access is properly monitored.
Data Retention and Deletion: Records actions related to data retention policies, including data deletion, ensuring that data is managed in accordance with legal and regulatory requirements.
Privacy-Related Actions: Tracks privacy-related actions, ensuring that privacy policies are properly enforced.

Integration and Third-Party Service Logs

These events track interactions with third-party services and integrations, ensuring that these interactions are properly monitored.

Events from Integrations: Records events from integrations, such as webhook events or callback triggers, ensuring that integration activities are properly tracked.
Logs Detailing Synchronizations Between Systems: Tracks logs detailing synchronizations between systems, ensuring that data is properly synchronized.
Failure or Success of Event-Driven Processes Involving Third Parties: Records the failure or success of event-driven processes involving third parties, ensuring that integration issues are detected and addressed.

Physical Security Logs

These events track physical access to facilities, ensuring that physical security is properly monitored.

Badge or Biometric Authentication at Physical Access Points: Records badge or biometric authentication at physical access points, ensuring that physical access is properly tracked.
Door and Building Access Attempts: Tracks door and building access attempts, both successful and failed, ensuring that physical access is properly monitored.
Surveillance System Activities: Records surveillance system activities, such as camera activation, ensuring that physical security is properly monitored.
Unusual Physical Access Alarms: Tracks unusual physical access alarms, which can indicate potential security breaches.

Email and Communication Monitoring

These events track email and communication activities, ensuring that communication is properly monitored and that security threats are detected.

Outgoing and Incoming Email Logs: Records outgoing and incoming email logs, focusing on metadata such as sender/recipient timestamps, ensuring that email communication is properly monitored.
Flagged Emails: Tracks flagged emails, such as phishing attempts or unauthorized external sharing, ensuring that security threats are detected.
Automated System Alerts or Remediation Emails: Records automated system alerts or remediation emails, ensuring that security issues are properly addressed.
Notifications or Warnings Sent to Administrators or Users: Tracks notifications or warnings sent to administrators or users, ensuring that security issues are properly communicated.

Backup and Recovery Events

These events track backup and recovery activities, ensuring that data is properly backed up and that recovery processes are properly monitored.

Backup Operations: Records backup operations, including start, completion, and failure, ensuring that backups are properly tracked.
Restoration of Data from Backups: Tracks the restoration of data from backups, ensuring that recovery processes are properly monitored.
Changes to Backup Policies or Settings: Records changes to backup policies or settings, ensuring that backup configurations are properly maintained.
Deletion of Backup Files or Archives: Tracks the deletion of backup files or archives, ensuring that backup data is properly managed.

Miscellaneous Events

These events track various other activities that may be relevant to system monitoring and security.

Custom Event Logging: Records custom event logging, which can be used to track organization-specific activities.
Debug Logs from Application Development and Testing: Tracks debug logs from application development and testing, which can help identify application issues.
System or Application Crash Dumps: Records system or application crash dumps, which can help identify system or application issues.
Audit Log Access or Modifications: Tracks access or modifications to audit logs, ensuring that audit logs are properly protected.
System Shutdown/Restart: Records when a system is shut down or restarted, providing a clear view of system availability.
Resource Provisioning: Tracks the creation, modification, or deletion of cloud resources, ensuring that resource usage is properly monitored.
Cloud Storage Access: Records access to cloud storage buckets or containers, ensuring that cloud storage access is properly monitored.
Cloud Service Usage: Tracks usage of cloud services, including API calls and resource consumption, ensuring that cloud service usage is properly monitored.

Summary Table of Audit Log Event Types

The following table summarizes the various event types commonly recorded in audit logs, categorized for clarity.

Category	Event Type	Description
Authentication	Successful Logon	User successfully logs into a system.
Authentication	Failed Logon	Unsuccessful login attempts.
Authentication	Logoff	User logs out of a system.
Authentication	Password Changes	Changes to user passwords.
Authentication	Account Lockouts	User account locked due to failed login attempts.
Authorization	Access Granted	User is granted access to a resource.
Authorization	Access Denied	User is denied access to a resource.
Authorization	Privilege Escalation	User gains elevated permissions.
User Management	User Account Creation	Creation of new user accounts.
User Management	Account Deletion	Deletion of user accounts.
User Management	Account Modification	Modification of user accounts.
Data Access	File Access	Access to files or documents.
Data Access	File Modification	Changes made to files or documents.
Data Access	File Deletion	Deletion of files or documents.
Data Access	Database Queries	Queries made to a database.
Data Access	Record Views	Viewing of database records.
System Configuration	Configuration Updates	Changes to system configurations.
System Configuration	Software Installation/Removal	Installation or removal of software.
System Configuration	Security Policy Changes	Changes to security policies.
Security Events	Firewall Rule Changes	Changes to firewall rules.
Security Events	Intrusion Detection Alerts	Alerts from intrusion detection systems.
Security Events	Malware Detection	Instances of malware detection.
Application Events	Application Start/Stop	Starting or stopping of applications.
Application Events	Transaction Logs	Financial or business transactions.
Application Events	API Calls	API requests and responses.
Network Events	Network Connection Attempts	Attempts to establish network connections.
Network Events	Network Traffic	Data packets transmitted over the network.
Network Events	VPN Access	Users connecting or disconnecting from a VPN.
Compliance Events	Audit Log Access	Access or export of audit logs.
Compliance Events	Policy Violations	Violations of organizational policies.
Compliance Events	Data Retention and Deletion	Actions related to data retention policies.
Cloud Events	Resource Provisioning	Creation, modification, or deletion of cloud resources.
Cloud Events	Cloud Storage Access	Access to cloud storage.
Cloud Events	Cloud Service Usage	Usage of cloud services.
Miscellaneous	System Shutdown/Restart	System shutdown or restart.
Miscellaneous	Backup Operations	Backup activities.
Miscellaneous	Error Logs	System or application errors.

Conclusion

Audit logs are a critical component of any robust security and compliance framework. By meticulously recording a wide range of events, from user authentication to system configuration changes, they provide a comprehensive view of system activities. This detailed tracking enables organizations to monitor access, identify suspicious behavior, analyze user actions, and ensure adherence to industry regulations. Proper logging and documentation of these event types provide a solid foundation for accountability, troubleshooting, and compliance. It is also essential to implement access controls to safeguard these logs and ensure that log retention policies align with security and legal requirements. The comprehensive list of event types detailed above serves as a valuable resource for organizations seeking to enhance their security posture and maintain a compliant environment.