OnPremiseLogs

OnPremiseLogs refers to log data that is generated by systems, applications, security devices, and network appliances within an organization’s own on-site infrastructure. This contrasts with logs stored and managed in cloud services or external platforms.

The typical workflow involves collecting logs from diverse sources using agents or forwarders, such as rsyslog, syslog-ng, Windows Event Forwarding, or journald. Logs are sent to a central on-prem server or SIEM for normalization, indexing, and correlation. Data is stored according to local retention policies and may be archived or rotated to manage storage needs. Access to the logs is controlled through on-site authentication and network security measures.

Common log types include system logs from operating systems, application logs from software services, security and audit logs from devices and firewalls, network device logs, database logs, and access or authentication logs. File integrity monitoring and application performance logs may also be included.

Benefits of on-premise log management include greater data control and sovereignty, easier compliance with certain regulations, and suitability for air-gapped or low-latency environments. It can reduce exposure to third-party data handling risks and integrate tightly with existing on-site security operations centers and SIEMs.

Challenges encompass capital expenditure for storage and infrastructure, scalability as log volumes grow, ongoing maintenance and patching, backup and disaster recovery planning, and ensuring robust security and access controls. Performance and uptime requirements can complicate capacity planning.

OnPremiseLogs is commonly used in regulated industries such as finance and healthcare, where data locality and strict audit trails are essential. It often coexists with cloud logging in hybrid architectures, depending on policy and compliance needs.