Decision: Audit Trail Strategy
Context
Multiple requirements in the system administration domain reference the need for audit trails, but the implementation approach has not been decided. This affects:
- User creation and modification tracking
- Project and worksite management auditing
- Compliance and regulatory requirements
- System security and incident investigation
Decision Required
How should audit trails be implemented across the Digital Lock On platform and admin system?
Options
Option 1: Database-Level Audit Logging
Description: Use database triggers or built-in audit features to automatically log all changes
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Automatic logging of all data changes
- Difficult to bypass or tamper with
- Comprehensive coverage
Cons:
- Database-dependent implementation
- Can impact performance
- Limited contextual information (user intent, business context)
Impact: Medium development effort, potential performance impact
Option 2: Application-Level Audit Service
Description: Implement audit logging at the application layer with a dedicated service
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Rich contextual information
- Business logic can be included
- Flexible implementation
- Can capture user intent and business context
Cons:
- Developers must remember to add audit calls
- Can be bypassed if not implemented consistently
- Additional development complexity
Impact: High development effort, good flexibility
Option 3: Event-Driven Audit System
Description: Use event sourcing or domain events to capture all significant business actions
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Natural fit with event-driven architecture
- Rich business context
- Can be used for other purposes (analytics, notifications)
Cons:
- Significant architectural change
- Complex implementation
- Learning curve for team
Impact: High development effort, architectural change required
Option 4: Hybrid Approach
Description: Combine application-level logging for business actions with database-level logging for data integrity
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Best of both worlds
- Comprehensive coverage
- Rich context where needed
Cons:
- Most complex to implement
- Potential for duplicate logging
- Higher maintenance overhead
Impact: High development effort, comprehensive coverage
Considerations
Technical Considerations
- Integration with existing Clerk audit capabilities
- Performance impact on user operations
- Storage requirements for audit data
- Query performance for audit reports
Business Considerations
- Regulatory compliance requirements for KiwiRail
- Incident investigation needs
- User privacy considerations
- Data retention policies
Legal/Compliance Considerations
- Railway safety regulations
- Data protection requirements
- Audit retention periods
- Access control for audit data
Timeline Considerations
- MVP can potentially launch without comprehensive audit trails
- Audit trails become more critical as system usage grows
- Regulatory requirements may have specific timelines
Budget Considerations
- Storage costs for audit data
- Development time for implementation
- Ongoing maintenance costs
Stakeholders
- Decision Maker: Technical Lead, Product Owner
- Consulted: Development Team, KiwiRail Compliance Team, Security Team
- Informed: All development team members, business stakeholders
References
Next Steps
- [ ] Research KiwiRail's audit and compliance requirements
- [ ] Investigate Clerk's audit capabilities
- [ ] Prototype simple audit logging approach
- [ ] Stakeholder consultation with compliance team
- [ ] Decision meeting scheduled for 2024-01-25
Note: This decision is referenced in multiple system administration requirements and should be resolved before implementation begins.