System Logging

System logging is when events are recorded that occur on a computer system. The events can be anything from startup messages to warnings. System logging is critical to troubleshooting, tracking performance, and monitoring system security. System logging is an invaluable tool for system administrators and security specialists that allows them to track system performance, monitor security, and troubleshoot any problems a system may encounter. Some of the most known system logging systems are:

• The Windows Event Viewer
• The Linux Syslog
• The macOS Console
• The Cisco IOS Syslog

Advantages and Disadvantages of System Logging

System logging can be advantageous for system administrators and security specialists for the following reasons:

• Increase security: System logs can provide important information about unauthorized access or malicious activity in a system, which security specialists can use to prevent a security risk.
• Troubleshoot problems: System logs provide critical information to identify events that led to a system failure.
• Monitor performance: System logs provide performance information, which can be used to optimize the system’s performance.

Some disadvantages to system logging include:

• File size: System logs can quickly balloon and become large if configured to log all events.
• Readability: Because too many technical terms can make it challenging to read system logs, they may become too difficult to interpret.
• Tampering: Files can inadvertently or intentionally be tampered with, making it difficult to trust the information in logs.