Windows Logging is one of the vital aspects of any Windows system administration. However, it is mostly overlooked until the system develops a problem. This is because logs contain important information needed to troubleshoot and resolve system issues. Without it, tech experts might find it difficult to track a computer’s activity and correctly diagnose the reason why it is not working as it is supposed to. Instead, they have to guess and engage in trial-and-error until they fix the problem.
What is Windows Logging?
This is the act of recording the activities and events that take place in a Windows system. These events include but are not limited to security breaches, application errors, and system warnings. Windows Logging provides in-depth records of events that occur within a system to diagnose and fix problems that arise, and to discover security breaches.
The process works by recording system activities and saving them in a log file. System log files are sorted by event types and tech personnel can use a host of tools and utilities to access and analyze them.
Importance of Windows Logging
Windows Logging provides system activity records that people can analyze whenever an application in their computer crashes. This analysis will reveal what caused the crash as well as all the resulting issues. Also, it is crucial to business cybersecurity efforts because it enables the detection of security breaches and allows for response to harmful incidents. You can use the logs to spot suspicious behavior, discover potential threats, and track user activity.
Logging with Windows also helps companies perform audits and ensure they are industry compliant. Governments set regulations on specific industries mandating them to keep in-depth logs of system events. These Windows logs help keep records of system activity for them to be audited and reviewed when necessary.
Configuring and Managing Windows Logs
All computers that run on the Windows operating system have an Event Viewer tool through which they can configure and manage Windows Logging. The tool has a graphical user interface anyone can use to view and analyze logs.
To use the Event Viewer tool, click on the Start menu and enter “Event Viewer” as a search term. When the tool opens, it will display a list of logs sorted by event type. Computer users can expand each log to view the individual events stored in them.
The Event Viewer tool also allows for the modification of the properties of individual logs. This is done by right-clicking any log and selecting “Properties”. From the properties tab, you can configure log settings like increasing the maximum size of a log, archiving a log when it is full, or choosing whether to overwrite some old events.
You can also manage Windows Logging with PowerShell. PowerShell is a configuration management and task automation software developed by Microsoft. It has a command-line interface computer users can use to work with Windows logs and automate log management tasks as they see fit.
Endnote
While Windows Logging is one of the major aspects of the administration of any computer device running the Windows OS, it is often ignored until the device has a software issue. The record of a system’s activities stored on log files can be elaborate. They are stored on log files and are the best starting point to diagnose and troubleshoot the problem. It also assists cybersecurity efforts by detecting system breaches, so cybercriminals cannot infiltrate the computer.
