(ISC)2 Certified in Cybersecurity Practice Exam

What term is used to describe the detailed account of interactions and changes made to an organization's records?

1. Audit trail

2. Data log

3. Access history

4. Version history

The correct answer is: Audit trail

The term "audit trail" refers to a comprehensive and systematic recording of all interactions and changes made to an organization's records. This includes detailed logs of actions taken, the individuals responsible for those actions, timestamps, and any associated events. The primary purpose of an audit trail is to provide transparency and accountability, enabling organizations to track modifications, identify unauthorized access or changes, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. Having an audit trail is crucial for forensic investigations and maintaining data integrity, as it allows organizations to ascertain the authenticity of their records and retrace steps in case of discrepancies or malicious activity. By maintaining detailed documentation of interactions, organizations can also facilitate audits by external parties, ensuring that they can demonstrate effective governance and data management practices. Other terms such as "data log," "access history," and "version history" may refer to similar concepts but do not encompass the complete aspect of recording all interactions with a specific focus on changes and accountability that an audit trail provides. A data log may represent a more generalized logging of data entries, while access history typically focuses only on who accessed the data and when. Version history relates specifically to changes in file versions rather than the broader monitoring of all interactions with records within an organization.