Log management

Application, audit, and platform logs provide visibility into system activity, security events, and operational health.

Logging architecture overview

Sterling™ Order Management System uses a structured logging architecture that separates logs by purpose and criticality. Different log types have distinct retention periods, access requirements, and governance controls. This approach helps organizations support compliance requirements, monitor system health, troubleshoot issues, and manage operational costs.

See the following logging types with their description.
Table 1. Logging types
Log type Description
Application logs Logs supporting system monitoring, error analysis, and support operations.
Audit logs Compliance-focused logs that capture security- and governance-relevant events.
Platform logs

For diagnostics purposes of databases, middleware, and more.
Each tier contains distinct characteristics related to log content, retention duration, and performance and cost considerations.

Application logs

Application logs support the monitoring and operation of Sterling Order Management System in production environments. These logs are used to detect and analyze errors or failures, monitor system behavior and health, and assist the IBM support teams and customer administrators during incident resolution.

Note: Application logs are not intended to serve as primary evidence for regulatory compliance.
Application log content
The application logs capture the following types of data:
  • Application errors and warnings
  • Integration and service communication failures
  • Performance-related events
  • Infrastructure or platform interactions
The volume and verbosity of the application logs are intentionally controlled to help ensure system stability and predictable operational cost.
Log severity levels

The application logs use the following standard severity levels to classify events and messages:

  • ERROR
  • WARN
  • INFO
Note: Verbose diagnostic logging is excluded from this tier.
Retention policy
The application logs are retained for 90 days sufficient to support operational troubleshooting and analysis.
Access and usage
Authorized IBM operations and support personnel use Self service tool to access application logs.

Audit logs

Audit logs provide a trusted record of compliance-relevant activities within Sterling Order Management System. These logs support regulatory requirements, security monitoring, and forensic investigation.

Platform logs

Audit logs provide a trusted record of Platform-relevant activities within Sterling Order Management System.