Google Cloud Professional Cloud Security Engineer Practice Exam

Why is it important to monitor Data Access audit logs?

1. To track changes to IAM roles

2. To identify unauthorized access attempts and provide alerts

3. To log actions taken on the resource itself

4. To optimize resource usage based on access patterns

The correct answer is: To identify unauthorized access attempts and provide alerts

Monitoring Data Access audit logs is essential because it allows organizations to identify unauthorized access attempts and provide timely alerts. These logs capture detailed records of who accessed what data and when, which is critical in detecting potential security breaches or malicious activities. Anomalies in access patterns can indicate unauthorized users attempting to gain access to sensitive information, which is vital for incident response and maintaining the integrity of data within the organization. By focusing on unauthorized access attempts, security teams can initiate appropriate actions to investigate incidents, mitigate risks, and enhance overall security posture. The proactive identification of suspicious activities is fundamental in safeguarding sensitive data and ensuring compliance with industry regulations. In comparison, while tracking changes to IAM roles, logging actions taken on resources, and optimizing resource usage based on access patterns are relevant to security and operational efficiency, they do not focus specifically on the critical aspect of detecting unauthorized data access, which is the primary goal of monitoring Data Access audit logs.