Keeping track of what users do on your IT systems—known as user activity logging—is an important part of protecting your business from cyber threats and meeting good security practices recommended by the UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). However, it's not about logging everything all the time, but rather capturing the right information to help detect and respond to suspicious activity without overwhelming your resources.
Why user activity logging matters for UK SMEs
For small and medium-sized businesses, understanding who accessed what, when, and how can be crucial. If a cyberattack or data breach occurs, logs provide the evidence needed to identify the source and limit damage. Without proper logging, you might face longer downtime, loss of sensitive data, or even penalties if you fail to meet obligations under UK GDPR or the Data Protection Act 2018.
Moreover, user activity logs support compliance with Cyber Essentials and ISO 27001 standards, which many clients and suppliers expect. These logs help prove you have controls in place to manage access and respond to incidents, boosting customer trust and reducing business risk.
A typical scenario: logging in practice
Imagine a UK-based marketing agency with 50 staff. They use cloud-based email and file sharing, plus local servers for client data. After a phishing email leads to unauthorised access, their IT team uses user activity logs to trace the compromised account and the actions taken. Because logging was set up to capture login attempts, file access, and changes to permissions, they quickly isolate the breach and restore systems without major disruption.
Their managed IT provider had ensured logging was enabled on key systems and regularly reviewed logs as part of ongoing cybersecurity monitoring. This proactive approach helped minimise downtime and protected client data, maintaining the agency's reputation.
Practical checklist: what to do about user activity logging
- Ask your IT provider: Which systems have user activity logging enabled? Are logs stored securely and for how long?
- Check access controls: Ensure only authorised staff can view or manage logs to prevent tampering.
- Review log coverage: Confirm logs capture critical events like login attempts, file access/modifications, permission changes, and admin actions.
- Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA): This reduces the risk of unauthorised access, complementing logging efforts.
- Set log retention policies: Keep logs for a period that balances investigation needs and data protection requirements, typically 6–12 months.
- Regularly review logs: Schedule periodic checks or automated alerts for unusual activity to catch issues early.
- Include logging in supplier assessments: When choosing cloud or IT service providers, verify their logging and monitoring capabilities meet your security needs.
Next steps
User activity logging is a key element of a practical cybersecurity strategy for UK SMEs. It helps you detect incidents early, supports compliance, and protects your business reputation. Speak to a trusted managed IT provider or IT advisor about your current logging setup and what improvements could strengthen your security posture. They can guide you on the right balance of logging detail, storage, and review processes tailored to your business size and sector.