audit trail
Accountability paper path
An audit trail is a chronological record that traces the sequence of activities affecting a specific operation, procedure, or document.
In accounting and business, it allows auditors to verify transactions by following documentation back to its source.
In computing, audit trails log user actions and system events for security monitoring and troubleshooting.
The audit trail showed exactly who accessed the file and when.
The term implies traceability—the ability to reconstruct what happened, step by step.
Recording system events
- timestampsRecorded times of events
- breadcrumbsDried, crushed loaf pieces
- traceabilityVerifiable origin and path
- historyRecord of past events
chronology · sequence · events · actions · changes · modifications · versioning · revisions
Written proof or instructions
- recordsStored data or albums
- loggingRecording system events
- verificationProving something accurate
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
regulatory · GAAP · internal controls · HIPAA · GDPR · standards · requirements · policies
Facts supporting truth
- investigationFormal examination of facts
- reconstructionRebuilding after destruction
- timestampsRecorded times of events
- sequencingDetermining element order
chain of custody · tampering · detection · anomalies · discrepancies · irregularities · fraud · analysis
Obligation for one's actions
- oversightSupervision or inadvertent omission
- scrutinyClose, careful examination
- disclosureAct of revealing information
- opennessQuality of being accessible
public access · freedom of information · visibility · review · inspection · reporting · stakeholders · governance
Restricting resource availability selectively
- authenticationConfirming genuine identity
- authorizationFormal permission granted
- encryptionConverting data into code
- intrusionUnauthorized entry into space
cybersecurity · integrity · permissions · incident · vulnerability · risk assessment · confidentiality
logging
Recording system events
- timestampsRecorded times of events
- breadcrumbsDried, crushed loaf pieces
- traceabilityVerifiable origin and path
history · chronology · sequence · events · actions · changes · modifications · versioning · revisions · footprints
documentation
Written proof or instructions
- recordsStored data or albums
- loggingRecording system events
- verificationProving something accurate
accountability · regulatory · GAAP · internal controls · HIPAA · GDPR · standards · requirements · policies · procedures
evidence
Facts supporting truth
- investigationFormal examination of facts
- reconstructionRebuilding after destruction
- timestampsRecorded times of events
sequencing · chain of custody · tampering · detection · anomalies · discrepancies · irregularities · fraud · analysis · examination
accountability
Obligation for one's actions
- oversightSupervision or inadvertent omission
- scrutinyClose, careful examination
- disclosureAct of revealing information
openness · public access · freedom of information · visibility · review · inspection · reporting · stakeholders · governance · ethics
access control
Restricting resource availability selectively
- authenticationConfirming genuine identity
- authorizationFormal permission granted
- encryptionConverting data into code
intrusion · cybersecurity · integrity · permissions · incident · vulnerability · risk assessment · confidentiality
- documentsdocument, news, email, report, letter
- examinationsexam, examination, checkup, reexamination, recheck
- privacyprivacy, private, seclusion, confidentiality, solitude
- reportsdaily report, weekly report, monthly report, progress report, final report
- security termsPIN, password, passwords, encryption, encrypted
- accountingbookkeeping, ledger, balance sheet, general ledger, accounts payable
audit trailoff-the-books
Unrecorded for tax purposes
black box · cover-up · data destruction · evidence tampering · plausible deniability
audit trailoff-the-books
Unrecorded for tax purposes
summary report · executive summary · dashboard · synopsis · bottom line
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