Keeping detailed logs of user activity is essential for many UK businesses, especially when it comes to meeting compliance requirements and managing cyber risks. However, a common concern is that logging can slow down systems, affecting staff productivity and customer service. The key is to implement a logging strategy that captures the necessary information without overwhelming your IT infrastructure.
Why logging matters for UK SMEs
Logs provide a record of who accessed what data and when, which is crucial for investigating security incidents, ensuring data protection under UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, and demonstrating compliance with standards like Cyber Essentials or ISO 27001. Without effective logging, you risk missing early signs of cyber attacks, failing audits, or losing customer trust due to data breaches.
A typical scenario
Consider a UK-based SME with around 50 employees using cloud services and on-premise servers. They noticed their systems slowing down during peak hours, coinciding with heavy logging activity. Their IT partner reviewed the setup and found that verbose logging was enabled on all devices, including unnecessary debug-level logs. By adjusting log levels to focus on critical events and implementing centralised log management with scheduled archiving, they reduced system load while maintaining audit-ready records.
Practical checklist to keep logs without slowing systems
- Ask your IT provider: How do you balance log detail with performance? Do you use centralised log management tools?
- Review log settings: Ensure logs capture key events (e.g., login attempts, file access, privilege changes) but avoid excessive debug or verbose logging in production environments.
- Implement log rotation and archiving: Regularly archive older logs to separate storage to free up system resources.
- Use cloud or dedicated logging solutions: Offload log storage and analysis to specialised platforms that scale independently from your core systems.
- Check access controls: Restrict who can view or modify logs to maintain integrity and confidentiality.
- Test system performance: Monitor how logging impacts system speed during different workloads and adjust accordingly.
- Ensure compliance readiness: Confirm logs meet relevant UK standards (Cyber Essentials, ICO guidance) and support audit trails.
Common pitfalls to avoid
Many SMEs either log too little, missing critical events, or log too much, causing slowdowns and storage bloat. Others neglect regular review and archiving, leading to oversized log files that degrade performance. Avoid storing logs locally on busy servers without rotation or offloading, as this directly impacts system responsiveness.
Ultimately, effective logging is about striking the right balance: capturing enough data to manage risk and comply with UK regulations, while keeping your systems running smoothly. A trusted managed IT provider can assess your current setup, recommend appropriate logging levels, and implement tools that automate log management without burdening your infrastructure.
If you're unsure how your current logging affects your systems or compliance posture, it's worthwhile to discuss with an experienced IT advisor. They can help tailor a logging strategy that aligns with your business needs and regulatory requirements, ensuring you maintain visibility and control without sacrificing performance.