Audit Logging and Monitoring Policy

Introduction

At Nineteen58, we recognise the critical role that audit logging and monitoring play in maintaining the security and integrity of our systems. Effective logging not only aids in detecting and responding to security incidents but also ensures regulatory compliance and facilitates forensic analysis. This policy establishes a structured framework for capturing, storing, and reviewing system logs, covering authentication, database interactions, API transactions, and third-party services. By implementing rigorous monitoring mechanisms, we reinforce our commitment to maintaining a transparent, secure, and resilient digital environment.

Purpose and Scope

The purpose of this policy is to provide clear guidelines on the collection, retention, and analysis of logs within our systems. Logs serve as an essential component of security enforcement, providing a historical record of system activities that can be used to investigate incidents, ensure compliance with industry regulations, and troubleshoot technical issues. This policy applies to all employees, contractors, and third-party vendors responsible for managing, accessing, or interacting with system logs.

The scope of this policy encompasses all major components of our technology stack, including authentication mechanisms, database interactions, API requests, application services, and third-party integrations. By defining a robust logging and monitoring framework, we ensure that all critical system events are documented, securely stored, and readily accessible for audit and compliance purposes.

Types of Logs Captured

Authentication Logs

Authentication is a fundamental security control, and detailed records of user logins are essential for detecting anomalies and potential breaches. Authentication logs capture:

• Successful and failed login attempts, including timestamps and originating IP addresses.
• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) usage, tracking when additional authentication steps are required.
• Session creation and termination events, providing visibility into account access history.

By maintaining comprehensive authentication logs, we are able to identify unauthorised access attempts, detect compromised credentials, and enforce adaptive security measures.

API Transaction Logs

Every API interaction within our infrastructure is logged to provide a transparent record of system transactions. These logs include:

• The identity of the requesting user or system.
• The type of API request (read, write, update, delete).
• The timestamp of the request and associated metadata.
• The originating IP address and request response status.

API transaction logs serve as a crucial source of truth when diagnosing service disruptions, investigating suspicious activity, and ensuring compliance with data access policies.

Database Access Logs

To ensure accountability in data interactions, we maintain logs for all database queries and modifications. Database access logs include:

• Records of queries executed, including SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE statements.
• The identity of users or applications executing database commands.
• Any errors encountered during database operations.
• Timestamped records of access attempts and query results.

By tracking database activity, we mitigate risks related to data leaks, unauthorised modifications, and privilege escalation attacks.

Application Logs

Application logs provide insights into system performance, error tracking, and operational health. These logs capture:

• Runtime errors and exception handling events.
• Performance metrics such as response times and resource utilisation.
• System crashes, process failures, and service restarts.
• User interactions within the application interface.

Through continuous application logging, we enhance troubleshooting efficiency, monitor service stability, and proactively address system vulnerabilities.

Third-Party Provider Logs

Our integrations with external services require careful monitoring to ensure secure and compliant interactions. Third-party providers maintain their own logs, which complement our internal logging framework. These providers include:

• Messaging and communication services.
• Payment processing gateways.
• Automation and workflow orchestration platforms.

By ensuring proper third-party logging, we maintain visibility over external dependencies and identify any anomalies that may indicate security risks or service disruptions.

Log Storage and Retention

Effective log management requires a structured approach to data storage and retention. Our policy ensures:

• API transaction logs are stored securely in our database with retention aligned to compliance requirements.
• Authentication and database logs are retained for a predetermined period, balancing security needs with data minimisation principles.
• Long-term archives are maintained for audit and compliance verification purposes.
• External provider logs are stored based on the respective service's retention policies, ensuring redundancy and completeness.

To prevent unauthorised modifications, all logs are immutable and protected against tampering, ensuring the integrity of audit trails.

Real-Time Monitoring and Alerting

Proactive security monitoring enables early detection of anomalies and potential threats. We employ automated tracking mechanisms to identify unusual activity, with alerts triggered in response to:

• Repeated failed login attempts, indicating possible brute-force attacks.
• API rate limit breaches, signalling potential abuse or exploitation.
• Unauthorised database queries, highlighting privilege escalation attempts.
• Sudden spikes in system errors, suggesting performance degradation or attacks.

By integrating real-time monitoring with automated alerts, our security teams can respond swiftly to mitigate risks before they escalate.

Access to Logs and Security

Strict access controls govern log visibility, ensuring that only authorised personnel can review sensitive data. This policy mandates:

• Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) to define access permissions for logs.
• Restricted log access to security personnel, compliance officers, and designated engineers.
• Immutable logging mechanisms that prevent alterations or deletions.

These safeguards prevent unauthorised modifications and ensure that audit trails remain intact for forensic investigations.

Incident Response and Log Analysis

Logs play a pivotal role in detecting, investigating, and responding to security incidents. Our incident response framework utilises logs for:

• Tracing unauthorised access patterns and identifying breach sources.
• Detecting fraudulent activities through transaction monitoring.
• Conducting forensic analysis to understand attack vectors and impact.
• Preparing regulatory reports in accordance with GDPR, POPIA, and SOC 2 guidelines.

A structured approach to log analysis ensures rapid incident resolution and continuous improvement of security protocols.

Policy Review and Compliance

To uphold the effectiveness of this policy, we conduct periodic reviews and audits, ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements. This includes:

• Regular log audits to identify security gaps and refine monitoring strategies.
• Compliance checks against GDPR, POPIA, and SOC 2 standards.
• Documentation of policy updates to reflect evolving threats and technologies.

By continuously refining our audit logging and monitoring practices, we reinforce our commitment to maintaining a secure and compliant digital environment.

Conclusion

The implementation of a comprehensive audit logging and monitoring policy is fundamental to Nineteen58's security strategy. By capturing and analysing logs across all key systems, we ensure enhanced visibility, rapid incident detection, and compliance with regulatory obligations. Through continuous improvement, robust access controls, and automated monitoring, we fortify our systems against evolving threats, ensuring the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of our digital infrastructure.