What is the primary goal of auditing in network security?

The primary goal of auditing in network security is to record events and detect usage violations. This process involves systematically reviewing and documenting activities within a network to ensure that all actions are compliant with established policies and regulations. By maintaining logs of user activities, system changes, and access attempts, organizations can identify unauthorized behaviors, track anomalies, and investigate incidents that may compromise security.

Auditing provides a critical layer of oversight in network security, helping organizations to maintain accountability and transparency. It aids in the early detection of security breaches and can provide valuable insights for future prevention measures. This continuous monitoring and logging help establish a detailed history that can be referenced during security assessments or compliance checks, ensuring the network operates within defined security parameters.