American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Certification Practice Exam

What does an audit trail help to monitor?

1. Unauthorized access to a system

2. Loss of data

3. Presence of a virus

4. Successful completion of a backup

The correct answer is: Unauthorized access to a system

An audit trail is a critical component of information security and data governance, as it provides a systematic record of all activities and transactions within a system. This record includes the who, what, when, and how of actions taken on the system. By documenting these details, an audit trail helps to monitor and identify unauthorized access to a system. When monitoring for unauthorized access, the audit trail allows organizations to trace suspicious activities back to specific users or events, helping to ensure accountability and detect potential security breaches. This capability is essential for maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of sensitive data, as it provides the necessary documentation to investigate incidents and take corrective actions. While monitoring for the loss of data, the presence of a virus, or the successful completion of a backup may involve other systems and measures, those aspects do not directly correlate with the primary function of an audit trail. Therefore, the role of an audit trail as a tool for oversight primarily centers around tracking system access and usage, making the focus on unauthorized access the most accurate understanding of its purpose.