Importance of Verifying Log Management System for Multi-Location Organizations

B.

The most important thing for an IS auditor to verify when evaluating the log management system for an organization with devices and systems in multiple geographic locations is whether the log files of the servers are synchronized (Option B).

Log files are an important tool for monitoring and troubleshooting information systems. They record system activity and events, such as user logins, file accesses, and system errors. In a distributed environment with multiple geographic locations, there may be multiple devices and systems generating log files. In such a scenario, it is important to ensure that the log files are synchronized. This means that the time stamps of the log entries should be consistent across all systems, and there should be no gaps or overlaps in the log data.

If the log files are not synchronized, it may be difficult to identify the cause of a security incident or system failure. For example, if a user's account is compromised and used to access sensitive data, it may be necessary to trace the user's activity across multiple systems. If the log files are not synchronized, it may be impossible to determine the sequence of events and identify the source of the compromise.

Option A (Log files are encrypted and digitally signed) is also important, but it is a secondary consideration. Encryption and digital signatures can help to protect the integrity and confidentiality of log files, but they do not ensure that the log data is accurate and complete.

Option C (Log files are reviewed in multiple locations) is a good practice, but it is not the most important thing to verify in this scenario. Reviewing log files in multiple locations can help to identify inconsistencies and errors, but it does not address the fundamental issue of log file synchronization.

Option D (Log files are concurrently updated) is also important, but it is not the most critical consideration. Concurrent updating ensures that log files are kept up-to-date in real-time, but it does not address the issue of synchronization.