What are logs and why are they important in cybersecurity?

Cybersecurity is becoming a key aspect for any company that wants to ensure the continuity of its business operations, as well as safeguard customer trust and brand reputation. Additionally, the techniques and methods for attacking a company are constantly evolving, becoming much more sophisticated, especially with the use of technologies like Artificial Intelligence.

A fact that has led to an increasing need for cybersecurity tools and policies to help prevent any type of cyberattack.

We find many cybersecurity solutions and services to protect a computer system, but in today's article, we will focus on logs.

¿What are tje logs?

Logs, also known as records or logs, are files that document activities occurring within a computer system, network, or application. These records can contain information about user access, transactions, system changes, errors, and other relevant activities.

These files can be stored internally on a system or on a central server to later be analyzed by specific software for examining the activity happening within the organization's specific system.

Types of logs

As we have seen, logs can be used in various ways. Here are the types commonly employed in businesses or public institutions:

• System logs: The information in this type of log corresponds to logins and logouts, system errors, or configuration changes.
  
  

• Application logs: These contain information about the applications on the systems, such as database access, user transactions, or any errors occurring in a specific application.
  
  

• Security logs: These identify events related to cybersecurity, such as failed access attempts, changes in user permissions, and malware detection.
  
  

• Network logs: This type of log documents network traffic, including incoming and outgoing connections, port scanning attempts, and unusual network activities.

Importance of logs in cybersecurity

As we explained earlier, logs can record any activity carried out on the system, which is why they are very useful for providing visibility, auditing capability, and a foundation for incident detection and response.

Logs are essential for identifying suspicious or unauthorized activities. By analyzing the logs, cybersecurity specialists can detect intrusion attempts, unauthorized access, and other malicious activities. If an incident occurs that compromises the security of the company's systems, logs provide a trace that can be analyzed to understand what went wrong and to develop a strategy to address the problem or security breach.

At ESED, in addition to using logs to prevent potential cyberattacks, we also protect your computer system and information against cyberattacks with our tailored solutions.

For any inquiries, feel free to contact  our team of experts.