AS-301c · Module 3

Secrets Audit Trails

3 min read

Every secrets management system generates audit data. Every secret access, every rotation, every revocation, every policy change produces a log entry. The audit trail is not optional — it is what makes secrets management provable. When a compliance auditor asks "who accessed the production database credential in the past 90 days," the answer comes from the audit trail. When a forensic investigator asks "did the compromised agent access the payment gateway secret," the answer comes from the audit trail.

Do This

  • Forward vault audit logs to your SIEM for correlation with other security events
  • Alert on anomalous access patterns — a secret accessed outside business hours, by an unexpected identity, or at unusual frequency
  • Retain audit logs for the duration required by your compliance framework — typically 1-7 years depending on industry

Avoid This

  • Store audit logs only in the vault — if the vault is compromised, the logs proving it may be deleted
  • Review audit logs reactively after incidents — proactive review catches anomalies before they become breaches
  • Treat audit logging as overhead — it is the evidence chain that proves your secrets management works