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Log Management Procedure Free Template

Here is the full Log Management Procedure document (PRC-IT-009), aligned with SOC 2 Trust Criteria CC7.1 and CC7.2:

1. Document Control

  • Document Title: Log Management Procedure

  • Document Identifier: PRC-IT-009

  • Version Number: v1.0

  • Approval Date: <24 June 2025>

  • Effective Date: <24 June 2025>

  • Review Date: <24 June 2026>

  • Document Owner: <Director of Information Security>

  • Approved By: <Information Security Governance Committee>

2. Purpose

The purpose of this procedure is to define the requirements for generating, storing, protecting, and reviewing log data to support security monitoring, incident detection, and forensic investigations. Effective log management enables to detect anomalies, establish audit trails, and meet legal, regulatory, and certification obligations.

This procedure is aligned with SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria CC7.1 and CC7.2 and ISO/IEC 27001:2022 controls A.8.15 (logging) and A.8.16 (monitoring), ensuring that event logging and log review practices support comprehensive security operations and accountability.

3. Scope

This procedure applies to all systems, applications, network devices, databases, and cloud services under 's ownership or control that handle production data, security events, authentication requests, or critical operations.

Personnel responsible for system administration, information security, DevOps, or managed service provision are required to comply. This includes both in-house and third-party environments.

4. Policy Statement

shall implement centralized log collection and management procedures that ensure:

  1. Logging of key events, including login attempts, access to sensitive data, changes to configuration, and security alerts.

  2. Logs are securely transmitted to and stored in a centralized Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system.

  3. Logs are time-synchronized using NTP to ensure consistency across systems.

  4. Logs are retained for a minimum of 12 months in accordance with legal and compliance requirements.

  5. Logs are reviewed daily by security analysts for anomalies and indicators of compromise.

  6. Access to logs is restricted to authorized personnel only, and all access is logged.

  7. Integrity of logs is ensured through cryptographic protections and access control mechanisms.

  8. Review failures, log gaps, or anomalies are reported and remediated within defined SLAs.

5. Safeguards

Control ID

Safeguard Description

LOG-01

All critical systems generate audit logs for authentication, privilege escalation, and configuration changes.

LOG-02

Logs are forwarded to the SIEM using secure, encrypted transport (e.g., TLS).

LOG-03

NTP synchronization is enforced across all systems to ensure timestamp integrity.

LOG-04

Daily log reviews are performed by the Security Operations Center (SOC).

LOG-05

Alerts are configured in the SIEM for anomalous activity or missing log streams.

LOG-06

Logs are retained for 12 months online and archived for up to 7 years for forensic purposes.

LOG-07

Access to logs is role-based and logged; no administrator has unaudited access.

LOG-08

Cryptographic hashing is used to protect log integrity for high-value systems.

LOG-09

Monthly audits validate log coverage against the asset inventory and critical systems list.


Template

6. Roles and Responsibilities

  • Director of Information Security: Ensures log management practices align with policy and regulatory expectations.

  • SOC Analysts: Review logs daily, investigate anomalies, and escalate alerts.

  • System Administrators: Ensure logging is enabled and correctly configured on all managed systems.

  • Cloud Engineering: Manage log routing from cloud-native systems (e.g., AWS CloudTrail, Azure Monitor).

  • Compliance Team: Verifies retention, access control, and completeness of log review practices during internal audits.

7. Compliance and Exceptions

Compliance is monitored via SIEM dashboards, ticket tracking systems, and periodic log review audits. Missing or incomplete log sources are flagged weekly for remediation.

Exceptions (e.g., unsupported legacy systems) must be documented using the Log Exception Request Form and include alternative compensating controls. Exceptions must be reviewed every 90 days and approved by the Director of Information Security.

8. Enforcement

Violations of this procedure—such as disabling logs, failing to route critical log sources, or unauthorized log access—are subject to disciplinary measures. These may include retraining, written warnings, access suspension, or termination depending on the severity and intent.

Vendors or contractors in breach of log handling responsibilities may face contractual penalties or termination.

9. Related Policies/Documents

  • POL-ALL-007: Logging and Monitoring Policy

  • PRC-IT-007: Security Event Monitoring Procedure

  • PRC-IT-008: Incident Detection and Response Procedure

  • SOC 2 Criteria: CC7.1 (Monitoring), CC7.2 (Detection of Anomalies)

  • ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Controls A.8.15, A.8.16

  • NTP Configuration and Validation SOP

  • Log Retention Matrix (by system and classification)

10. Review and Maintenance

This procedure is reviewed annually by the Information Security Office or upon any major system change, audit finding, or regulatory update. All changes are recorded in the document control log and subject to formal approval.



[PARTY A NAME]

By: --------------------------------


Name: [NAME]


Title: [TITLE]


Date:-----------------------------

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