Doha, Qatar: The National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) has issued new national Log Management Guidelines aimed at strengthening the country’s cyber resilience and enhancing the ability of public and private entities to detect, respond to, and recover from cyber incidents amid a rapidly evolving threat landscape.
On its X platform yesterday, the agency announced the guidelines addressing one of the most persistent challenges in cybersecurity operations, such as the inadequate activation, collection, and management of system logs, which are critical for identifying malicious activity, investigating incidents, and ensuring effective response measures.
According to the NCSA, insufficient log management continues to hinder timely cyber incident investigations, limiting organisations’ ability to understand attack vectors, assess impact, and take corrective action.
The newly issued guidelines are designed to help national entities establish structured, consistent, and effective logging practices aligned with cybersecurity best practices. The Log Management Guidelines provide entities with clear direction on identifying critical events that must be logged and monitored across systems, networks, and applications. By enhancing visibility into digital environments, the guidelines aim to facilitate earlier threat detection, reduce response times, and enhance incident recovery capabilities.
The agency further stressed that effective log management is not only a technical requirement but a foundational element of cyber preparedness.
Well-managed logs support forensic analysis, regulatory compliance, and business continuity.
The issuance of the guidelines forms part of the NCSA’s broader efforts to enhance national cyber readiness and promote unified cybersecurity practices across sectors. As digital transformation accelerates across government services, critical infrastructure, and the private sector, the agency continues to prioritise measures that safeguard digital assets and ensure operational resilience.
By standardising log management practices, the NCSA aims to strengthen coordination among national entities, improve situational awareness, and support a proactive cybersecurity posture. The guidelines also encourage companies to integrate log monitoring into their overall risk management and incident response frameworks.
Cybersecurity experts widely recognise log data as a vital tool in identifying anomalies, tracing unauthorised access, and understanding the scope of cyber incidents. Without proper logging and monitoring, malicious activities can remain undetected for extended periods, increasing the risk of data breaches, service disruptions, and financial losses. The NCSA also noted that the guidelines are intended to support the national cybersecurity ecosystem.
