The Integrity Problem of Logs
Audit logs are the first line of defense in security incident investigations. However, a sophisticated attacker who compromises a server can modify or delete logs to cover their tracks. How can an organization prove that its logs have not been tampered with after an incident?
Why Traditional Logs Are Vulnerable?
Conventional logging systems have inherent weaknesses:
- Local storage: Logs on the same server can be modified by an attacker with root access
- Centralized log servers: If compromised, all logs are at risk
- No time proof: There is no cryptographic guarantee of when each entry was generated
- Lack of immutability: Administrators can alter historical logs
Blockchain as a Guarantee of Immutability
Blockchain technology provides exactly what audit logs need:
- Immutability: Once anchored, the log hash cannot be altered
- Verifiable timestamp: Cryptographic proof of the exact moment of logging
- Decentralization: There is no single point of compromise
- Public verification: Anyone can audit the integrity
How Proovik Works for Audit Logs
Proovik, based on the Kaspa blockchain, offers an optimized solution for log anchoring:
1. Log Collection
The Proovik agent integrates with your logging systems:
- Syslog (rsyslog, syslog-ng)
- Windows Event Log
- Application logs (Apache, Nginx, databases)
- Cloud logs (CloudWatch, Stackdriver)
2. Hash Generation
Periodically (configurable: every minute, hour, or day), Proovik:
- Calculates the SHA-256 hash of the log block
- Chains it with the previous hash (merkle tree structure)
- Digitally signs it with the server's key
3. Anchoring in Kaspa
The hash is anchored in the Kaspa blockchain:
- Transaction with immutable timestamp
- Confirmation in seconds thanks to the GHOSTDAG protocol
- Minimal cost per transaction
4. Verification and Auditing
At any time you can verify:
- That local logs match the anchored hashes
- That no entries have been deleted or modified
- The exact date of each log block
- The complete chain of custody
Why Kaspa?
Proovik chose Kaspa for critical logging advantages:
- High frequency: One block per second allows for frequent anchoring
- Low cost: Thousands of daily anchors at minimal cost
- Scalability: No congestion or waiting
- Real decentralization: No pre-mining or centralized control
Use Cases
Immutable logs with Proovik apply to:
- Regulatory compliance: PCI-DSS, SOC2, HIPAA, GDPR require integral logs
- Forensic investigation: Admissible evidence in legal proceedings
- Security audits: Demonstrating that logs were not tampered with
- Critical systems: Financial, healthcare, governmental infrastructure
- DevOps and CI/CD: Auditing deployment pipelines
Benefits for Security Teams
Security and compliance teams gain:
- Irrefutable proof of log integrity
- Simplified compliance with regulations
- Admissible forensic evidence
- Real-time detection of log tampering
- Reduced risk in audits
Technical Integration
Proovik offers multiple integration options:
- Linux Agent: Direct integration with rsyslog/syslog-ng
- Windows Agent: Capture of Windows Event Log
- REST API: For custom systems
- Kubernetes Sidecar: For containerized environments
- Plugins: Elasticsearch, Splunk, Datadog
Example Architecture
A typical implementation includes:
- Servers generating logs (syslog)
- Central log server (optional)
- Proovik agent calculating hashes at intervals
- Automatic anchoring in Kaspa
- Verification and alert dashboard
Important: Scope of Certification
The Proovik blockchain anchoring provides technical proof of integrity and verifiable timestamp. This complements, but does not replace, log management systems (SIEM), data retention policies, or security certifications granted by recognized auditors.
Conclusion
Audit logs are critical for security, but only if we can trust that they have not been tampered with. Proovik on Kaspa provides an immutable, cost-effective, and high-frequency trust anchor that guarantees the integrity of your logs from the moment they are generated.
