Once the file integrity monitoring is in place, requirement 10.5.2 is also satisfied because the integrity monitoring functions in a way that protects the log files from unauthorized modification. In addition, the file integrity monitoring software might also identify the source of the unauthorized modification, depending on the features of the software package selected. Finally, we can leverage the log monitoring system to fulfill requirement 10.7 by specifying appropriate backup schedules for each logfile collected. We also need to make sure that the log monitoring system has enough disk space to maintain 3 months worth of online log files. Note that capturing the 12-month backups from the log monitoring system instead of the PCI production servers we can more cleanly schedule tape retention times for the PCI production servers, as its likely that some production data is not needed for a full 12 months.

This article has shown your organization might proceed to establish a log monitoring and management system compliant with the PCI DSS v1.1. We’ve examined the major sub-requirements with Requirement 10 that would be considered in-scope for such a system and one way in which we might architect such a system.

Requirement 10: Track and monitor all access to network resources and cardholder data

10.1 Establish a process for linking all access to system components (especially access done with administrative privileges such as root) to each individual user.
10.2 Implement automated audit trails for all system components to reconstruct the following events:
10.2.1 All individual user accesses to cardholder data.
10.2.2 All actions taken by any individual with root or administrative privileges.
10.2.3 Access to all audit trails.
10.2.4 Invalid logical access attempts.
10.2 5 Use of identification and authentication mechanisms.
10.2.6 Initialization of the audit logs.
10.2.7 Creation and deletion of system-level objects.
10.3 Record at least the following audit trail entries for all system components for each event:
10.3.1 User identification.
10.3.2 Type of event.

10.3.3 Date and time.
10.3.4 Success or failure indication.
10.3.5 Origination of event.
10.3.6 Identity or name of affected data, system component, or resource.
10.4 Synchronize all critical system clocks and times.
10.5 Secure audit trails so they cannot be altered.
10.5.1 Limit viewing of audit trails to those with a job-related need.
10.5.2 Protect audit trail files from unauthorized modifications.
10.5.3 Promptly back-up audit trail files to a centralized log server or media that is difficult to alter.
10.5.4 Copy logs for wireless networks onto a log server on the internal LAN.
10.5.5 Use file integrity monitoring and change detection software on logs to ensure that existing log data cannot be changed without generating alerts (although new data being added should not cause an alert).
10.6 Review logs for all system components at least daily. Log reviews must include those servers that perform security functions like intrusion detection system (IDS) and authentication, authorization, and accounting protocol (AAA) servers (for example, RADIUS).
Note: Log harvesting, parsing, and alerting tools may be used to achieve compliance with Requirement 10.6.
10.7 Retain audit trail history for at least one year, with a minimum of three months online availability.