Mapped to NIST 800-171 Requirement: 3.3.5
CMMC Assessment Objective: AU.L2-3.3.5[a]
What This Objective Means
You must clearly identify where audit logs are physically and logically stored. This applies to:
• System-level logs (local storage on endpoints, servers, or firewalls)
• Centralized logging platforms (e.g., SIEMs, syslog servers, cloud log aggregators)
• Backup and archival locations (e.g., cold storage, cloud object stores)
This information is required to support later objectives related to log protection, retention, and review.
Why It Matters
If you don’t know where your logs live:
• You can’t protect them from modification or loss
• You may be unable to retrieve them during an audit or investigation
• Retention compliance becomes difficult to track
Knowing where logs are stored is foundational for security, integrity, and accountability.
How to Implement It
• Inventory all log sources and destinations:
◦ Local event logs on endpoints or servers
◦ Remote syslog servers or SIEM platforms
◦ Cloud-native logging services (e.g., AWS CloudTrail, Azure Monitor)
◦ Offline or long-term archives
• Document the retention locations in your:
◦ Audit and Accountability Policy
◦ System Security Plan (SSP)
◦ Incident Response Plan (if logs are referenced there)
Evidence the Assessor Will Look For
• A documented list or diagram showing where audit logs are stored
• Policy or procedures that define log storage and retention locations
• Screenshots or system configuration outputs showing local and centralized logging destinations
• Access control policies or permissions tied to log repositories
Common Gaps
• Log locations are known by individual IT staff but not documented centrally
• Logs are stored only locally without centralized backup or redundancy
• Cloud log locations are assumed to be covered by the provider, without verification
How Cuick Trac Helps
Cuick Trac supports this requirement by:
• Centralizing audit log storage within a secure enclave environment
• Providing clear documentation of log locations and access controls
• Helping organizations map local and external log sources to compliant storage destinations
• Supporting cloud and hybrid environments with logging visibility and control
With Cuick Trac, your logs are always accounted for—down to where they live and who can access them.
Final CTA
Log storage shouldn’t be a mystery.
Schedule a Cuick Trac demo and gain full visibility and control over where your audit records are retained.