Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Cybersecurity Practice Test

What is an audit trail?

1. A record of system updates

2. A log showing who accessed a system and their actions

3. A method of securing physical documents

4. A backup of system data

The correct answer is: A log showing who accessed a system and their actions

An audit trail refers to a detailed log that captures all actions related to a specific system or data, including who accessed it and what operations were performed. This log serves an essential function in cybersecurity and data management by providing accountability and traceability. When an incident occurs, the audit trail allows administrators and security professionals to understand which users interacted with the system, what actions they took, and when these actions occurred, enabling effective investigations and improvements to security protocols. This detailed tracking aids in compliance with regulations and helps organizations maintain security standards. Additionally, audit trails can assist in identifying unauthorized access or usage, serving as a deterrent against potential malicious activities. Other options, while related to system maintenance and security, do not capture the essence of an audit trail. System updates pertain to changes made to the system rather than user interactions, securing physical documents addresses the safeguarding of tangible paperwork, and data backups focus on creating copies of information rather than logging user access and actions.