Cost of Analysis of Audit Data

The cost of analysis is roughly proportional to the amount of audit data that is collected. The cost of analysis includes the time that is required to merge and review audit records. Cost also includes the time that is required to archive the records and keep the records in a safe place.

The fewer records that you generate, the less time that is required to analyze the audit trail. Upcoming sections, Cost of Storage of Audit Data and Auditing Efficiently, describe ways to audit efficiently. Efficient auditing reduces the amount of audit data, while still providing enough coverage to achieve your site's security goals.