id: "AU-04(01)" title: "Transfer to Alternate Storage" family: "AU" family_name: "Audit and Accountability" sort_id: "au-04.01" priority: "P2" implementation_level: "system" parent: "AU-04" enhancement: True


Statement

Transfer audit logs {{ insert: param, au-04.01_odp }} to a different system, system component, or media other than the system or system component conducting the logging.

Guidance

Audit log transfer, also known as off-loading, is a common process in systems with limited audit log storage capacity and thus supports availability of the audit logs. The initial audit log storage is only used in a transitory fashion until the system can communicate with the secondary or alternate system allocated to audit log storage, at which point the audit logs are transferred. Transferring audit logs to alternate storage is similar to AU-9(2) in that audit logs are transferred to a different entity. However, the purpose of selecting AU-9(2) is to protect the confidentiality and integrity of audit records. Organizations can select either control enhancement to obtain the benefit of increased audit log storage capacity and preserving the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of audit records and logs.

Assessment Objective

audit logs are transferred {{ insert: param, au-04.01_odp }} to a different system, system component, or media other than the system or system component conducting the logging.

Audit and accountability policy

system security plan

privacy plan

procedures addressing audit storage capacity

procedures addressing transfer of system audit records to secondary or alternate systems

system design documentation

system configuration settings and associated documentation

logs of audit record transfers to secondary or alternate systems

system audit records transferred to secondary or alternate systems

other relevant documents or records

Organizational personnel with audit storage capacity planning responsibilities

organizational personnel with information security and privacy responsibilities

system/network administrators

Mechanisms supporting the transfer of audit records onto a different system