What is the purpose of logging and auditing in cloud environments?

The primary purpose of logging and auditing in cloud environments is to ensure accountability and traceability. When actions take place within a cloud infrastructure, logging these events generates a detailed record that can be reviewed later. This record is essential for identifying who did what, when, and how, which is critical for security investigations and understanding the sequence of events leading to incidents.

By enabling accountability, organizations can track user interactions, application behaviors, and system changes, facilitating a better understanding of their systems. Traceability allows for a clear audit trail that aids in identifying breaches, unauthorized access, or misconfigurations. When combined, both accountability and traceability contribute to a stronger security posture, ensuring that organizations can react promptly to potential threats or vulnerabilities.

While compliance with regulatory standards is certainly a significant aspect of logging and auditing and can be seen as a related benefit, the fundamental purpose revolves around maintaining accountability and traceable records of all activities within the cloud environment.