SQL Server must utilize centralized management of the content captured in audit records generated by all components of the DBMS.

From MS SQL Server 2014 Instance Security Technical Implementation Guide

Associated with: CCI-001844

SV-82379r1_rule SQL Server must utilize centralized management of the content captured in audit records generated by all components of the DBMS.

Vulnerability discussion

Without the ability to centrally manage the content captured in the audit records, identification, troubleshooting, and correlation of suspicious behavior would be difficult and could lead to a delayed or incomplete analysis of an ongoing attack.The content captured in audit records must be managed from a central location (necessitating automation). Centralized management of audit records and logs provides for efficiency in maintenance and management of records, as well as the backup and archiving of those records. SQL Server may write audit records to files in the file system, to other kinds of local repository, or directly to a centralized log management system. (If the Trace facility is used for auditing - this is no longer recommended, but may be in place for legacy reasons - a trace table is another possible destination.) Whatever the method used, it must be compatible with off-loading the records to the centralized system.

Check content

Review the system documentation for a description of how audit records are off-loaded and how local audit log space is managed. If the SQL Server audit records (to include traces used for audit purposes) are not written directly to or systematically transferred to a centralized log management system, this is a finding.

Fix text

Configure and/or deploy software tools to ensure that SQL Server audit records (to include traces used for audit purposes) are written directly to or systematically transferred to a centralized log management system.

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