In today's digitally driven world, data is the lifeblood of the healthcare, finance, and government sectors. For organizations in these sectors, ensuring that sensitive data is securely managed and properly monitored is not just a business priority—it’s a legal requirement. This requirement not only encompasses any customer data these organizations process; it extends to system logs, metrics, and alerts generated as part of their IT operations.
Logs, messages, and events are effectively digital records that track the operations, transactions, and activities of systems, applications, and networks. I will refer to these records as “logs” moving forward. These logs are vital for tracing security incidents, establishing accountability, and ensuring operations run as intended. However, where and how these logs are stored matter significantly.
Regulatory compliance and data sovereignty
Many regulations in industries such as healthcare and finance mandate strict control over data and require that sensitive records, including logs, remain within authorized geographical territories. For instance, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) mandates that personally identifiable information (PII) of European Union (EU) residents should not be transferred to regions with insufficient privacy safeguards.
Another example is HIPAA, which requires healthcare organizations to maintain meticulous record-keeping for sensitive patient information within U.S. facilities or trusted locations. Local storage ensures compliance with these rules by keeping critical logs within defined boundaries, avoiding the risks associated with transferring data across international jurisdictions.
Auditability and accountability
Regulatory audits are a standard requirement in sectors like finance and healthcare. Logs provide a clear, chronological view of system activities, user interactions, and policy enforcement. However, for any audit to be meaningful, logs must be readily accessible, tamper-proof, and aligned with the auditor's jurisdiction. Local storage guarantees complete control over log integrity and ensures logs remain secure and auditable without delays involved in accessing remote systems.
Data Localization allows you to select the region in which to store your logs.
How F5 solves local log storage needs
The F5 Application Delivery and Security Platform provides industry-leading flexibility for securing applications and APIs anywhere. Customers that deploy the platform’s services using hardware can maintain strict control over where data is stored. F5 hardware allows customers to store logs directly on their appliance, or route them to any remote logging server they choose. Our hardware customers have ultimate control over where and how their logs are stored.
Customers consuming the platform’s services via SaaS on F5 Distributed Cloud Services, can now specify the regions where they would like to store their logs. We are expanding our log storage options for customers who need location control to satisfy regulatory requirements.
Distributed Cloud Services now offer a Data Localization Suite that customers can add to their subscription, enabling them to select a single logging region per tenant. All logs, regardless of where they are generated, are stored in the customer’s chosen region, ensuring they do not cross national borders after ingestion. As of today, customers can specify whether they need persistent storage in the EU or in the United States, and we plan to add more options in future releases.
Security and compliance are critical
For those in regulated industries, compliance violations can lead to fines, reputational damage, and loss of trust. Even if there are no requirements in place for your industry right now, regional data storage requirements are something to get ahead of with the Data Localization Suite.
Adopting the F5 Distributed Cloud Services Data Localization Suite isn't just about meeting regulatory obligations; it's about protecting your organization's mission and the sensitive data entrusted to you. For leaders in these sectors, the question isn't whether to localize logs, but how to implement robust data sovereignty strategies that go beyond logging to include auditability, retention, and control. Connect with your account team to learn how to get started, and stay tuned as we add more regions.
Contact us to learn how to get started, and stay tuned as we add more regions.
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