audit log
What It Means
An audit log is a detailed digital record that automatically captures who accessed what systems, when they did it, and what actions they took. Think of it as a security camera for your digital systems that creates a permanent, time-stamped record of all user activities and system events.
Why Chief AI Officers Care
For AI systems, audit logs are critical for proving compliance with AI regulations, investigating bias incidents, and demonstrating responsible AI governance to regulators and stakeholders. They provide the evidence trail needed to show that AI models are being used appropriately, data is being handled correctly, and any problems can be traced back to their source.
Real-World Example
When a healthcare AI system makes a diagnosis recommendation, the audit log captures which doctor accessed the system, what patient data was processed, which AI model version was used, what recommendation was generated, and the exact timestamp - creating an unalterable record that can be reviewed if the diagnosis is later questioned or if regulators audit the AI system's decision-making process.
Common Confusion
People often confuse audit logs with regular application logs or error logs, but audit logs specifically focus on security-relevant events and user actions rather than technical system performance. Unlike general logs that can be modified, audit logs must be tamper-proof and immutable to serve their compliance and security purposes.
Industry-Specific Applications
See how this term applies to healthcare, finance, manufacturing, government, tech, and insurance.
Healthcare: In healthcare, audit logs are essential for tracking access to protected health information (PHI) and medical systems, e...
Finance: In finance, audit logs are critical for regulatory compliance and fraud prevention, automatically tracking all transacti...
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Includes:
- 6 industry-specific applications
- Relevant regulations by sector
- Real compliance scenarios
- Implementation guidance
Technical Definitions
NISTNational Institute of Standards and Technology
"A chronological record of system activities, including records of system accesses and operations performed in a given period. "Source: SP800-37
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