Know About Data Logging (and its best practices)

A small bug in the software, is what disrupts the entire function of any server.

So how do you find the issue, in just a few minutes? That where logging pops in to save our time.

Logging is essential to track the performance of your applications so you can identify potential bottlenecks and improve performance.

Collecting, saving and monitoring depends on logging files. Let us look into the other details about it.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

  1. What is a log file?
  2. Explore about logging
  3. Features of data logging
  4. What should be logged?
  5. How to log a data?
  6. Advantages of logging
  7. Limitations
  8. Sum up

#1 What is a log file?

You call a person from your contacts or a random number. The list of your call history gets recorded in the call logs.

Log Files

If you want to search for an unknown number later, all you have to do is surf the call log and find it.

Neither we record it nor save the numbers. It happens automatically.

Likewise, when data or a piece of information is recorded, it is known as the log file. It is most probably computer-generated data.

Log file is a source of data that contains information related to the operations that occur in an Operating System, software, or application.

Moreover, it acts as a backup, which is entirely related to the server we are working on. Basically, to keep a track of all the activities, it is advisable to maintain a log file.

#2 Explore about logging

A log file contains data, and the process of recording and storing the information is called logging.

Every small action or minor thing associated with your server application is recorded automatically through logging. A backup of the recordings is always essential for future references.

Data logging can record various actions like processor temperature, user-id actions, network bandwidth, device memory, backup, and much more.

Not just this, you can also select the data that has to be logged.

The use behind this logging system is to keep a track of our actions in the software. We can't be remembering each and every move, but the device can do it for us.

As it is done automatically, you don't have to worry about it.

#3 Features of data logging

Why data logging?

Some aspects and features of data logging assist us in integrating the actions in the device and software.

For example, if there is troubleshooting caused in the application that you use, but couldn't find the reason behind the problem. It would be hectic.

This is where data logging helps to rescue. As every action is recorded, it will be easy to identify the issue causing the troubleshooting.

Exploring some key aspects,

1.) Performance

Performance of any device or server matters more. Logging of data can monitor the performance of the component.
Like, how many requests it can manage and how fast can the server react to it can be calculated and recorded in your log file.

2.) Security and Privacy

There shouldn't be any compromise in security and privacy related to the application that is being used.
To ensure that, complete authentication and encryption are done with your log data. While logging sensitive data authorization of data is needed.

3.) Correctness of log files

The data or information that is logged has to be correct and precise. The log file is what helps you to track your actions.
In case of future references, the data that is being logged has to be perfect to resolve the problem. So every log file that is created has the utmost correctness.

Every logged data ensures that the above-mentioned features are present. So that it would be easy to take a look into it later.

#4 What should be logged?

What to log will be the basic doubt inside your heads.

Monitoring or recording every data has to be useful and hence the logged data has to be useful for us in the long term.

To do that, every request in the id or component should be recorded. At times, the services may be dependent on other applications. For that, the service requests related to the additional components should also be collected.

Sensitive data that is being logged has to be handled cautiously. If the data is leaked, it may arise some security-related problems.

You can log events related to the software, data, username, the id of the server, modifications that are made in the application, and errors related to it.

It is quite similar to audit trails, which record the events here logging stores and records information related to the system and server.

#5 How to log a data?

So how to create a log file?

Basically in every device log files are automatically created and stored. The program is default, so there is no work needed to create or save a log file.

Sometimes, you need to manage hundreds of software and maintaining the logs may be difficult. In that case you need some assistance. So, you can get help form log monitoring applications to keep the track of the activities.

With the help of log monitoring applications such as Atatus, you can track all the log files related to the server and applications at the same time.

#6 Advantages of logging

What is need of data logging for your system?

Every small action or event can't be reported manually. Some human errors are inevitable during data collection.

Through data logging systems, you can achieve the collection of information without any mistakes or errors.

Mostly all data logging systems records the data automatically. There won't be any need to constantly monitor the actions involved in the logging systems.

The actions involved in every second is being monitored, recorded, and saved. In case of any server problem, all that has to be done is checking the log files.

The effectiveness of data logging systems are high and the data that is recorded is extremely accurate and reliable.

Even if you forget to record, the computer systems doesn't.

#7 Limitations

The data logging systems does have some limitations.

In case if the log files are not being monitored regularly, it may cause some troubleshooting and the recorded files would have errors.

If malfunctions are caused in the data, then it would be difficult for us to keep track of our actions.

But log monitoring services like Atatus can reduce the risk of malfunctions caused in data logging.

#8 Sum up

To sum up, data logging does help us in various ways to systemize the records related to our server and operating systems.

Every data that is being collected or recorded are under our privacy measures. But during inevitable situations, the log files help us to a great extend in rectifying the problems.


Atatus provides you the best possible service related to log monitoring. Through the log monitoring system you can clearly track and keep an eye on your log files without any errors.

Above all Atatus system is user-friendly, delivering the best API and assisting you with log maintenance, tracking and troubleshooting.

Get your free trial now from Atatus.