Direct answer
Security logs should capture actionable events with enough context for investigation while protecting credentials and personal data. Verify that the expected event is recorded, accessible to responders and retained according to policy.
Define the events and audience
Agree which events matter: failed and successful authentication, authorization denials, privilege changes and administrative actions are common examples. Record the responsible team, event source, timestamp and correlation fields needed to investigate a controlled incident.
Reference: OWASP Logging Cheat Sheet.
Generate safe test events
Use a dedicated account to perform one allowed login and an agreed denied action. Confirm the correct events arrive in the approved logging system with time, relevant actor or pseudonymous identifier, action and result. Compare clocks and correlation across the gateway and application.
- Use synthetic identifiers and harmless test objects.
- Check that an alert reaches its intended owner when applicable.
- Record ingestion delays and missing events.
Inspect data minimization
Review whether request headers, passwords, bearer tokens, session identifiers or sensitive request bodies appear in logs. Redact or exclude unnecessary secrets at collection and review permissions, retention and secure deletion for the data that remains.
Test operational recovery
With the operations team, review what happens when the logging destination is unavailable and how buffering, alerts and restoration are handled. An application log line that never reaches the monitoring team may not support a timely investigation.
Assessment limits
A successful synthetic event does not prove complete detection, correct retention or response to every incident. Avoid deliberately disabling production logging without a separate approved exercise.
Frequently asked questions
Should logs contain full request bodies for investigation?
Only when necessary and appropriately protected. Bodies can contain passwords or personal data, so use minimization and redaction appropriate to the event.
Does a logged event guarantee an alert?
No. Ingestion, detection rules, routing and responder ownership must also work; test the intended path end to end.
Primary sources and further reading
These guides combine published security guidance with practical assessment planning. Adapt checks to the owner's policy, environment, and authorized scope.
This guide was prepared with AI assistance using the linked sources and illustrative examples. Check current vendor guidance and your environment before making changes.