Auditing & Logging in NewSQL

1. Introduction

Auditing and logging are essential components of NewSQL databases, ensuring data integrity, security, and compliance. This lesson covers the significance of these practices, their key concepts, implementation strategies, and best practices.

2. Key Concepts

2.1 Definitions

Auditing: The process of tracking and recording data access and modifications to ensure accountability and compliance.
Logging: The recording of events or transactions in a system to facilitate monitoring, troubleshooting, and analysis.

Note: Both auditing and logging can help detect unauthorized access and provide insights into user behavior.

3. Implementation Steps

3.1 Setting Up Auditing

To implement auditing in a NewSQL database, follow these steps:

Identify the data and operations to be audited.

Configure the auditing policies in the database management system (DBMS).

Enable auditing and specify the storage location for audit logs.

Regularly review and analyze audit logs for suspicious activities.

3.2 Setting Up Logging

To implement logging, consider the following:

Determine the logging level (info, warning, error).

Define the log retention policy.

Implement structured logging for better analysis.

Utilize log management tools for monitoring and alerting.

3.3 Example Code

Below is a sample code snippet for enabling logging in a NewSQL database:


-- Enabling logging in a hypothetical NewSQL database
SET LOGGING ON;
SET LOG_LEVEL 'INFO';

4. Best Practices

Regularly update your auditing and logging policies as per regulatory requirements.
Ensure that logs are securely stored and access is restricted to authorized personnel.
Implement automated alerts for suspicious activity detected in logs.
Conduct periodic reviews of audit trails to identify potential improvements.

5. FAQ

What is the difference between auditing and logging?

Auditing focuses on tracking changes and access to sensitive data while logging records events and transactions for monitoring purposes.

How often should logs be reviewed?

Logs should be reviewed regularly, ideally daily or weekly, depending on the volume of transactions and regulatory requirements.