Who is responsible for ensuring that only those with a work-related need can access audit trails?

The responsibility for ensuring that only those with a work-related need can access audit trails typically falls to the assessor, who plays a critical role in evaluating and managing security protocols within an organization. Assessors are tasked with identifying the security controls in place, ensuring compliance with relevant standards, and providing recommendations based on their findings. They have a deep understanding of security practices and the importance of maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of audit trails.

By limiting access to audit trails to only those individuals who have a defined work-related need, assessors help to mitigate the risk of unauthorized access and potential data breaches. This principle of least privilege is a fundamental security measure. While other roles, like IT staff, compliance officers, and management personnel, have significant responsibilities in overseeing and implementing security practices, the specific accountability for assessing and ensuring adherence to access controls typically lies with the assessor, who evaluates whether existing policies are effectively implemented and functioning as intended.