Log retention is a fundamental pillar of any cybersecurity strategy. It enables you to trace technical events, detect abnormal behavior, respond to incidents, and meet regulatory requirements. LOGIQE supports you in implementing a compliant, sustainable log retention strategy tailored to your IT infrastructure.
Why keep logs?
Logs are activity logs generated by your systems (servers, workstations, applications, network equipment, cloud, etc.). Using them allows you to:
- Detect security attacks and anomalies (intrusion attempts, exfiltration, lateral movements, etc.)
- Reconstructing an incident or compromise after the fact
- Prove regulatory compliance (NIS2, GDPR, ISO 27001, PCI-DSS, etc.)
- Justify the actions of a user or system in the event of an investigation
But to be useful, logs must be reliable, time-stamped, protected against tampering, and retained for the legal period.
How does LOGIQE implement log retention?
1. Audit of the existing situation
- Identification of log sources (systems, firewalls, AD, Microsoft 365, antivirus, etc.)
- Checking active logging settings
- Analysis of log quality, volume, frequency, and format
2. Defining a conservation strategy
- Choice of retention period according to legal requirements (from 6 months to 3 years)
- Separation of sensitive logs and technical logs
- Rules for purging, archiving, pseudonymization if necessary
3. Centralization & security
- Integration of logs into a SIEM solution (Sentinel, Graylog, etc.) or a dedicated component
- Reliable timestamping (NTP, UTC), encrypted storage, integrity check
- Implementation of strict access rights, compartmentalized by profile (CIO, CISO, Auditor, etc.)
4. Reporting & compliance
- Automated report generation
- Queries and alerts on sensitive events
- Documentation for external audits or supervisory authorities (ANSSI, CNIL, auditors, etc.)
Log wells: a centralized platform for traceability and analysis
A log well refers to the centralized architecture in which all critical activity logs from your information system converge. This approach not only secures storage, but also provides complete and actionable visibility into your IT events.
LOGIQE designs and integrates robust, compliant log wells, which play a strategic role in:
- Event correlation and early incident detection (SIEM or dedicated monitoring)
- Post-incident investigation thanks to complete, time-stamped traceability
- Compliance with GDPR, NIS2, ISO 27001, and PCI-DSS standards
- The production of reliable audit reports that can be used by authorities or external auditors
These log wells are built on proven technologies such as Graylog, Secure Syslog (RFC 5424 via TLS), Fluentd, or Zabbix, and can be adapted to any type of environment (Microsoft, Linux, Cloud, SaaS, OT). They guarantee compliant retention, verifiable integrity, fast search, and restricted access to sensitive data.
Log retention & regulatory requirements
Log retention is required by numerous regulations and standards:
- GDPR: logging of access to personal data, time limits
- NIS2: obligation to trace security incidents, with protected storage
- RGS / SecNumCloud: log integrity and accessibility requirements
- ISO 27001: evidence of active monitoring and response capability
- Labor Code: Supervision of User Monitoring
LOGIQE adapts your logging policy to these standards, with clear documentation to support it.
Solutions tailored to every need: Graylog and Syslog
Graylog: a powerful and flexible open-source SIEM solution
Graylog is a robust SIEM platform, ideal for organizations seeking a high level of customization while retaining control over their data. LOGIQE deploys and configures Graylog for:
- Centralize system, network, cloud, or application logs
- Filter and normalize messages (pipeline and parsing)
- Detect suspicious behavior via dashboards and scheduled queries
- Set up real-time alerts for critical events
- Generate automated audit reports (GDPR, NIS2, ISO)
Graylog can be hosted on-premises or in the cloud, and integrates seamlessly with Microsoft, Linux, or commercial network appliances.
Syslog: simple, compliant, and secure log storage
Syslog is a universally recognized protocol for collecting and transmitting logs. It enables multi-source ingestion, centralization on dedicated servers, and secure transmission via TLS. LOGIQE configures reliable collection chains, incorporating UTC timestamping, standard formatting (RFC 5424), and redundancy.
For customers who do not need a full SIEM, Syslog is a lightweight, interoperable, and compliant solution for ensuring traceability and legal retention of activity logs. In particular, it enables:
- Secure storage of logs with UTC timestamps (GDPR and NIS2 compliance)
- Immutable archiving for the regulatory period, with verifiable integrity
- Multi-source ingestion (firewalls, servers, routers, business equipment) via standardized protocols (RFC 5424, TLS)
- Controlled and restricted access via secure interfaces for auditors (DPO, CISO)
- Data reversibility and portability in the event of a change in SIEM or IT strategy
Syslog is particularly well suited to SMEs, local authorities, and healthcare institutions that want to comply with retention requirements without excessive complexity, while maintaining clear, sustainable, and compliant auditing capabilities.
Examples of implementation
- Industrial SME: activation of logs for all critical equipment, storage for 18 months, monitoring via Graylog, alerts in case of suspicious access during off-peak hours.
- Community: collection of AD, firewall, and application server logs, secure archiving for three years, quarterly report to the CISO.
- Private clinic: compliance with GDPR and HDS requirements, retention of patient file consultation logs, restricted access to the DPO.
Why entrust LOGIQE with log management?
- Technical and regulatory expertise: we combine compliance and performance.
- Integration into your IT system: solutions compatible with Microsoft, Linux, cloud, SaaS, firewall, etc.
- Rapid and documented implementation: diagnosis, action plan, audit deliverables.
- Continuous monitoring possible: via our managed SOC (SIEM + alerting option).
- Training and skills transfer: for the progressive autonomy of your teams.
FAQ – Log retention
What is the legal retention period for logs?
It depends on the context: 1 year for NIS2, up to 3 years for certain sensitive data or under ISO 27001. LOGIQE helps you determine the appropriate duration for your sector.
Can we use the cloud to store logs?
Yes, provided that integrity, localization (if required), encryption, and restricted access are guaranteed. We support you on Azure, AWS, OVHcloud, etc.
Are logs really useful in the event of an attack?
Absolutely. They are often the only source of information that allows us to understand how an attack was carried out, when it took place, and what its impact was.
Need a diagnosis or a log retention plan?
Whether you are an SME, a local authority, or a healthcare institution, log retention can no longer be overlooked. LOGIQE supports you in implementing robust, compliant solutions tailored to your IT environment.
