Detect suspicious activity in GCP using audit logs

GCP audit logs are essential tools for tracking cloud infrastructure activities, allowing organizations to detect and respond to threats by validating these logs against security policies. The shared responsibility model in cloud environments necessitates that customers secure their cloud accounts, which are prime targets for cyberattacks. Cloud Audit Logs in Google Cloud Platform (GCP) facilitate cloud threat detection by providing a continuous stream of events that detail all activities in a cloud account. These logs are divided into four types: Admin Activity, System Event, Data Access, and Policy Denied, each capturing different aspects of cloud operations. The article highlights the importance of cloud threat detection as a complement to Compute Workload Protection Platform (CWPP) and Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) by providing a more immediate detection of suspicious activity. Sysdig Secure for cloud leverages these logs using Falco rules to detect and respond to security events, offering pre-configured rules that align with compliance standards like MITRE ATT&CK, NIST 800-53, and others. This integration helps in quickly identifying cloud misconfigurations and suspicious activities, ensuring a secure cloud environment.