Use Logging on Business Systems

Protect Your Business with Logging and Monitoring   

Small and medium businesses are responsible for protecting sensitive customer information from threat actors trying to access their systems. This especially concerning for organizations connected to critical infrastructure. A single data breach in one of these systems could disrupt services that communities rely on, or worse, go unnoticed until major damage is done.  

In fact, during a recent red team exercise, CISA simulated a cyberattack on a critical infrastructure organization. The attackers were able to move laterally across systems and access sensitive information, but the intrusion was detected after analyzing network and log data, which flagged unusual activity.  

Although cyber threats are rising, you can effectively and affordably strengthen defenses by logging and monitoring your systems.  
 

What is logging and monitoring? 

Every time someone logs in, accesses a file, or makes a change to your system, it leaves a digital record. Logging is the process of recording this activity on your business systems, including who accessed what, when, and from where. Monitoring adds a layer of oversight by reviewing those logs in real time to identify anomalies or unauthorized behavior. Together, they create a clear picture of normal, baseline behavior. That means you can quickly detect anything suspicious, like unauthorized access or attempted breaches. 
 

Why does this matter? 

Early detection of unusual activity is key to preventing data breaches, ransomware, and other costly incidents. Logs help your IT team to quickly detect suspicious activity, like unauthorized access or attempted breaches. Logging and monitoring empower your team to spot and respond to threats faster. 

To help organizations get started, CISA offers no-cost tools, like Logging Made Easy and Malcolm, that make it simple to collect and review key system logs. It’s an easy first step toward stronger cybersecurity.