What is primarily assessed by a security audit trail?

A security audit trail primarily assesses user activities within a system or network. Audit trails are comprehensive logs that record actions taken by users, including login attempts, access to files, changes made to data, and other interactions with the system. By reviewing these logs, organizations can track how data is accessed and manipulated, enabling them to identify unauthorized access or deviations from expected behavior.

User activities play a critical role in understanding the effectiveness of security controls and the overall activity within the system. This information helps organizations establish accountability and can be vital during investigations into security incidents or breaches. Analyzing user activities also aids in identifying patterns that may indicate potential threats or vulnerabilities and supports compliance with regulations that require proper monitoring and documentation of user interactions.