Direct answer
Correlate event 1102 with the device, account, time and approved maintenance; preserve centrally collected evidence and investigate unexplained clearing through the incident process.
Understand the event
Microsoft documents event 1102 when the Windows Security audit log is cleared and recommends investigating why. Record the device, time, subject and logon identifier in restricted evidence. The event is a signal, not by itself proof of an attack.
Reference: Microsoft: Security event 1102.
Correlate context
Compare the event with approved maintenance, administrative sessions and related alerts. Check central logging for earlier events that may no longer remain locally. Missing central records may be a collection or retention gap and should be tracked separately.
Respond and improve
Escalate unexplained events to the incident team and avoid altering the device before evidence preservation decisions. For legitimate maintenance, record the change reference and authorized operator. Test alerts and forwarding in an isolated lab rather than clearing a production security log.
Compare with an authorized change
An administrator may clear a test machine's log during a documented rebuild. Match the event's account and timestamp with the change record and verify the device identity. If no authorized activity explains it, preserve the central record and related logons for the incident team; do not clear another log to reproduce the event.
Assessment limits
An event may be absent because logging, retention or forwarding failed. Event 1102 alone does not identify all activity before the log was cleared.
Frequently asked questions
Does event 1102 always mean malicious activity?
No. Check authorized maintenance and context, and investigate unexplained clearing.
Can local logs show everything before a clear?
Not necessarily. Use retained central evidence and record collection gaps.
Should I clear a production log to test alerting?
Use an authorized isolated test environment and follow the monitoring team's procedure.
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.