The correct answer is authentication logs. This is because the syslog-ng auth facility is specifically designated to capture and forward messages related to security and authorization events, such as user login attempts, sudo command usage, and authentication failures. In the context of the CISSP exam, understanding syslog facilities is critical for the Communication and Network Security domain, where you must differentiate between facility codes like auth, authpriv, and syslog; a common trap is confusing auth with authpriv, but auth handles system-wide authentication events while authpriv manages sensitive user-level data. When you see syslog-ng auth facility logs in a configuration, immediately think of authentication and authorization monitoring. Memory tip: associate "auth" with "authentication" and "authorization"—both start with "auth," and both are security-critical events that the facility captures.
CISSP Security Operations Practice Question
This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of security operations. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
syslog-ng configuration:
filter f_auth { facility(auth) or facility(authpriv); };
log { source(s_sys); filter(f_auth); destination(d_central); };
Refer to the exhibit. The syslog-ng configuration is used to forward logs to a central server. What type of logs are being forwarded?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Authentication logs
The syslog-ng configuration shown uses the `auth` facility, which corresponds to authentication-related messages (e.g., login attempts, sudo usage, user authentication). The `auth` facility is specifically designated for security and authorization events, making option A correct.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Authentication logs
Why this is correct
auth and authpriv are authentication-related.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Kernel logs
Why it's wrong here
Kernel facility not selected.
✗
Daemon process logs
Why it's wrong here
Daemon facility not selected.
✗
Security event logs
Why it's wrong here
No facility called security.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse `auth` with generic 'security event logs' (option D), but syslog-ng uses specific facility names, and 'security' is not a valid facility; the correct facility for authentication/security is `auth` or `authpriv`.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Syslog-ng uses facility codes to categorize log messages; `auth` (facility code 4) and `authpriv` (facility code 10) are both used for authentication and security events, but `auth` is the traditional facility for such logs. The configuration likely specifies `filter f_auth { facility(auth); };` to capture only authentication-related messages, which are then forwarded to the central server. In practice, this is critical for SIEM integration, as authentication logs are essential for detecting brute-force attacks or unauthorized access.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A security analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CISSP question in full detail.
Security Operations — This question tests Security Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Authentication logs — The syslog-ng configuration shown uses the `auth` facility, which corresponds to authentication-related messages (e.g., login attempts, sudo usage, user authentication). The `auth` facility is specifically designated for security and authorization events, making option A correct.
What should I do if I get this CISSP question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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