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Does log auditing have an impact on system performance?

Yes, log auditing can have an impact on system performance, primarily due to the resource overhead required for collecting, storing, and analyzing logs. The extent of the impact depends on factors such as log volume, frequency, and the complexity of auditing rules.

For example, if a system generates a high volume of logs (e.g., thousands per second) and applies strict auditing policies (e.g., real-time pattern matching or encryption), the CPU, memory, and disk I/O usage may increase significantly. This could lead to slower response times or reduced throughput.

To mitigate performance issues, logging systems often use techniques like log sampling, asynchronous writing, or tiered storage. For instance, in cloud environments, services like Tencent Cloud CLS (Cloud Log Service) provide scalable log collection and analysis with features such as log buffering, compression, and intelligent filtering to minimize performance overhead while maintaining auditability.