Does the application log administrative activity, such as user account access changes and password changes, including specific user, date/time of changes, and originating IP or device?

This question is asking whether your application maintains detailed logs of administrative actions, specifically focusing on user account management activities like creating/modifying accounts and password changes. For each action, the system should record who performed it (the specific user), when it happened (date/time), and where it originated from (IP address or device identifier). Why this matters in a security assessment: 1. Accountability: These logs create an audit trail that establishes who did what and when, which is crucial for accountability. 2. Forensic investigation: If a security incident occurs, these logs help determine how it happened and who was responsible. 3. HIPAA compliance: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act requires covered entities to implement audit controls that record and examine activity containing protected health information (PHI). 4. Detection of unauthorized access: Unusual patterns in administrative activities might indicate compromised credentials or insider threats. In the context of HIPAA, this question directly relates to the Security Rule's Audit Controls standard (45 CFR § 164.312(b)), which requires implementing hardware, software, and procedural mechanisms to record and examine activity in systems that contain or use electronic protected health information. When answering this question, you should: 1. Be specific about what administrative activities are logged 2. Detail exactly what information is captured in each log entry 3. Explain how long these logs are retained 4. Describe how the logs are protected from tampering 5. Mention any automated alerting for suspicious administrative activities