Logging & Monitoring Policy

Purpose and Scope

This policy establishes requirements for logging and monitoring of Code Town’s information systems to detect security events, maintain operational visibility, and maintain compliance with regulatory requirements.

This policy applies to all information systems, networks, and applications owned or operated by Code Town, as well as all employees, contractors, and third parties with access to these systems.

Policy Statements: Our Commitments

The following policy statements outline our core commitments and practices for logging and monitoring. They cover everything from log collection and retention to analysis and incident detection.

Logging and Monitoring Framework

Code Town will implement a centralized logging and monitoring framework that captures and analyzes system activities across all critical IT assets. The framework includes:

• Log collection: Gathering logs from servers, applications, network devices, and cloud platforms.
• Log analysis: Regularly reviewing and analyzing logs to detect anomalous or suspicious activities.
• Alerting: Configuring automated alerts for specific triggers, such as unauthorized access attempts or system failures.
• Retention: Storing logs securely and retaining them for a specified period based on regulatory, legal, and business requirements.

Log Types and Sources

The following log types are collected and monitored to ensure comprehensive coverage of system activities:

• Security logs: Capturing login attempts, failed authentication, and system access violations.
• Application logs: Monitoring events related to the functioning and performance of applications, including errors and abnormal behavior.
• System logs: Tracking operating system events such as boot sequences, shutdowns, and system errors.
• Network logs: Capturing network traffic events, including firewall, router, and switch logs.

Logs must be configured to capture sufficient details, including timestamps, IP addresses, user IDs, and event types, to facilitate incident investigation and audit. All systems generating logs must be synchronized to a reliable and consistent time source to ensure accurate time stamping of events.

Log Monitoring and Analysis

Logs will be actively monitored for suspicious behavior, security incidents, and operational failures. This process includes:

• Automated log analysis: Using tools and systems to automate the monitoring of logs for predefined security and operational event triggers.
• Alerting and escalation: Setting up automated alerts for critical events such as unauthorized access attempts, data breaches, or system failures. Alerts must be escalated according to the organization’s incident response process.
• Log correlation: Correlating logs from multiple systems to detect complex attacks or patterns of suspicious behavior across the network.

Log Retention and Storage

Logs will be retained for a minimum of 12 months.

Logs must be stored in secure locations, using encryption and access control mechanisms to protect them from unauthorized access or tampering. They must be protected from modification or deletion.

The retention policy will be reviewed periodically to ensure compliance with changes in regulatory or business requirements.

Incident Response and Forensic Investigation

Logs are a critical source of information for responding to security incidents and conducting forensic investigations. In the event of a security breach or operational failure, the IT Security Team will:

• Analyze relevant logs: Review logs to identify the source and scope of the incident.
• Correlate events: Use log correlation to track the progression of the incident across systems.
• Generate reports: Produce detailed reports for incident response, root cause analysis, and corrective action planning.

Logs must be preserved for forensic purposes in the event of an investigation or legal proceedings.

Compliance and Enforcement

Compliance with this policy is mandatory for all employees, contractors, and third parties with access to Code Town’s data.

In rare cases, business needs, local laws, or regulations may require exceptions. Management will approve any exceptions and define alternative solutions.

Non-compliance may lead to disciplinary action, including termination, as per Code Town’s policies.

Policy Review and Maintenance

This policy will be reviewed annually or when significant changes occur to maintain its continuing suitability, adequacy, and effectiveness.

Reviews must consider changes in the regulatory landscape.