What is a suitable solution for backing up application logs while restricting PII access to analysts?

Using Cloud Pub/Sub in combination with Data Loss Prevention (DLP) scanning for logs provides a robust solution for backing up application logs while effectively managing access to Personally Identifiable Information (PII).

Cloud Pub/Sub serves as a messaging service that allows you to asynchronously ingest log data for processing and storage. By integrating DLP, you can automatically scan these logs for sensitive information and take appropriate action, such as masking or redacting PII before it reaches analysts. This ensures that while logs are available for analysis and backup, access to sensitive information is controlled and minimized.

This approach not only allows you to maintain security and compliance concerning PII but also supports scalable log management by leveraging Google Cloud’s infrastructure. It creates an efficient pipeline where logs can be processed and stored securely, allowing analysts to perform necessary functions without direct access to sensitive data.

In contrast, generating reports to control access may add complexity and might not effectively restrict access to sensitive data within the logs themselves. Separating logs into different folders based on content may help in organizing logs but can lead to inconsistencies in access control if not managed correctly. Sharing all logs in a single bucket fails to protect sensitive information and does not provide the necessary controls to prevent unauthorized access to PII.