Meaning
Chronological digital records generated by information systems document user logins and data access within a specific local network environment. Maintaining local access logs is a statutory requirement under the Data Security Law of China to ensure the auditability of data processing activities. These files provide an immutable trail that helps investigators identify the source of unauthorized system modifications or data leaks.
Audit Requirement
Regulatory inspection teams from the Cyberspace Administration of China require these records to be stored securely and made available during compliance audits. Systems must generate these logs automatically and prevent their modification by administrative users.
Retention Protocol
Compliance rules mandate that these records be stored for a minimum period of six months. The recorded details must include the user identity, IP address, timestamp, accessed data fields, and the specific operation performed. Companies use specialized security information and event management tools to analyze these files for anomalous patterns.
In the event of a security breach, these logs must be provided to local public security bureaus within the legally prescribed timeframe to assist with the investigation.
System Integration
Network architectures must separate the storage of these files from the production servers to protect them from erasure during a system-level intrusion. This separation guarantees that the forensic trail remains intact even if the primary database is compromised.
