Question 1

What is LogCentral?

Accepted Answer

LogCentral is a cloud-based log management platform that helps you collect, analyze, and visualize log data from various sources. It simplifies troubleshooting, security monitoring, and compliance reporting.

Question 2

What is a syslog?

Accepted Answer

Syslog is a standard protocol used for sending system log or event messages to a specific server, often called a syslog server. It's widely used by network devices (routers, switches, firewalls), servers, and applications to report their operational status, errors, and other important events.
There are two main standards for syslog:
RFC 3164 (The BSD Syslog Protocol): This is the older, more traditional standard. It's less structured but widely supported.
RFC 5424 (The Syslog Protocol): This is a newer standard that provides more structure and features, including better support for timestamps, structured data, and transport over TLS (for security).
LogCentral acts as a cloud based syslog server, allowing you to centrally collect and manage syslog data from all your compatible devices & applications, without having to worry about handling and maintaining infrastructure.

Question 3

What devices and network brands are compatible with syslog?

Accepted Answer

Syslog is a widely supported standard, so a vast range of devices and network brands are compatible. This includes:
Network Devices: Routers, switches, firewalls, load balancers, and wireless access points from vendors like Cisco, Meraki, Juniper, Fortinet, Palo Alto Networks, Check Point, Ubiquiti, PfSense, Synology, 2N and many others.
Servers: Windows servers, Linux servers (various distributions), Unix servers, and virtual machines.
Applications: Many applications, especially those running on servers, can be configured to send logs via syslog.
Security Devices: Intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS), security information and event management (SIEM) systems, and other security appliances.
Cloud Services: Many cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) offer mechanisms to forward logs via syslog or provide native integrations with log management services.
If a device supports sending logs via the syslog protocol (RFC 3164 or RFC 5424), it's highly likely to be compatible with LogCentral. Our users documentation provides informations on how to configure your devices to send logs to LogCentral.

Question 4

Why store syslogs?

Accepted Answer

Storing syslogs centrally offers numerous benefits:
Troubleshooting: Quickly identify and diagnose issues by analyzing log data from multiple sources in one place.
Security Monitoring: Detect suspicious activity, security breaches, and policy violations by monitoring logs for security-related events.
Compliance: Meet regulatory requirements (like GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS) that mandate log retention and auditing. LogCentral helps you with GDPR and other compliance needs. We maintain an up to date list of our providers & sub-processors in the legal section of our public website.
Performance Monitoring: Track system performance, identify bottlenecks, and optimize resource utilization.
Auditing: Maintain a complete record of system activity for auditing and forensic analysis.
Business Intelligence: Gain insights into user behavior, application usage, and other trends by analyzing log data.
LogCentral provides a secure and scalable platform for storing, analyzing, and visualizing your syslog data, making it easy to realize these benefits. See our Features page for more details.

Question 5

What are the key features of LogCentral?

Accepted Answer

Key features include real-time log collection, powerful archival & compliance storage, customizable dashboards, alerting, user access control, and integrations with popular services. Learn more on our Features page.

Question 6

How does LogCentral pricing work?

Accepted Answer

LogCentral offers flexible pricing plans based on your data volume and retention needs. We have options for small businesses, enterprises, and everything in between. Visit our Pricing page for details.

Question 7

Is my data secure with LogCentral?

Accepted Answer

Yes, data security is our top priority. We use industry-standard encryption, access controls, and regular security audits to protect your information. See our Security page for more details.

Question 8

Where is my log data stored?

Accepted Answer

Your log data is stored in secure, geographically distributed data centers. We comply with relevant data privacy regulations. You can find more information on our Data Storage page.

Question 9

How do I get support?

Accepted Answer

We offer various support options, including documentation, email support, and a knowledge base. You can reach out to us through our Contact Us page.

Question 10

How do I get started with LogCentral?

Accepted Answer

Getting started with LogCentral is easy! Simply sign up for a free account and you'll receive your unique syslog endpoint immediately. Then configure your devices to send logs to this endpoint using standard syslog protocols.

Question 11

How do I set up LogCentral?

Accepted Answer

Setting up LogCentral is straightforward. After creating your account, you'll receive your unique syslog server endpoint. Simply configure your devices to send logs to this endpoint using standard syslog protocols (RFC 3164 or RFC 5424). We provide detailed documentation for configuring various devices and applications.

Question 12

How long do you retain my log data?

Accepted Answer

LogCentral offers flexible retention periods based on your plan. Our retention policies range from 30 days to 1 year, ensuring compliance with various regulatory requirements while keeping costs manageable. You can adjust retention settings based on your specific needs.

Question 13

Do you provide API access?

Accepted Answer

Yes, LogCentral provides comprehensive API access for programmatic log retrieval, configuration management, and integration with your existing tools and workflows. Our RESTful API supports both read and write operations with proper authentication and rate limiting.

Question 14

Does LogCentral help with compliance (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA)?

Accepted Answer

Yes, LogCentral is designed to help you meet various compliance requirements including GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS, SOC 2, and ISO 27001. We maintain detailed documentation of our compliance measures and can provide compliance reports upon request. Visit our Security page for more details.

Question 15

Can I integrate LogCentral with other tools?

Accepted Answer

Yes, LogCentral provides comprehensive API access and webhook support for integration with your existing tools and workflows. You can connect LogCentral to SIEM systems, monitoring tools, ticketing systems, and other business applications.

Question 16

How does LogCentral compare to other log management solutions?

Accepted Answer

LogCentral offers enterprise-grade log management at a fraction of the cost of traditional solutions. We focus on simplicity, reliability, and cost-effectiveness while providing the features you need for effective log management and compliance.

Question 17

Where can I check your systems status?

Accepted Answer

You can check our system status and uptime at our Status page. We provide real-time information about service availability and any ongoing maintenance or issues.

Question 18

Do you offer solutions for Managed Service Providers (MSPs)?

Accepted Answer

Yes, LogCentral is designed with MSPs in mind. We offer multi-tenant capabilities, white-label options, and flexible pricing that scales with your client base. Visit our MSP Solutions page for more details.

Question 19

Does LogCentral support IPv6?

Accepted Answer

Yes, LogCentral fully supports IPv6 for both incoming syslog traffic and outbound connections. Our infrastructure is IPv6-ready and we recommend enabling IPv6 for better connectivity and future-proofing.

Question 20

How do I send syslogs to LogCentral?

Accepted Answer

After creating your account, you'll receive a unique syslog endpoint. Configure your devices to send logs to this endpoint using standard syslog protocols (RFC 3164 or RFC 5424). We provide detailed documentation for configuring various devices and applications.

Question 21

How does LogCentral secure my logs?

Accepted Answer

LogCentral implements multiple layers of security including encryption at rest and in transit, access controls, audit logging, and regular security audits. Your logs are protected with enterprise-grade security measures. See our Security page for detailed information.

Question 22

What happens if I remove all authorized IPs from a location?

Accepted Answer

If you remove all authorized IPs from a location, that location will no longer be able to send logs to LogCentral. You'll need to add at least one authorized IP address to resume log collection from that location.

Question 23

How can I retrieve archived logs?

Accepted Answer

Archived logs can be retrieved through our web interface or API. All logs remain accessible throughout your retention period, and you can search, filter, and export them as needed.

Question 24

What happens when my organization's plan expires?

Accepted Answer

When your plan expires, you'll have a grace period to renew. If not renewed, your account will be suspended and you'll lose access to your logs. We recommend setting up automatic billing to avoid service interruptions.

Question 25

What security measures does LogCentral implement?

Accepted Answer

LogCentral implements comprehensive security measures including encryption, access controls, regular security audits, compliance monitoring, and physical security at our data centers. See our Security page for a complete overview.

Question 26

What is LogCentral's environmental commitment?

Accepted Answer

LogCentral is committed to environmental sustainability. We use green energy sources, implement energy-efficient infrastructure, and work with environmentally conscious providers. Visit our Environment page for more details.

Question 27

Do you offer US data residency options?

Accepted Answer

Currently, LogCentral stores all data in European data centers to ensure GDPR compliance and optimal performance for our European customers. We do not offer US data residency options at this time.

Question 28

Can I configure my own syslog server instead of using LogCentral?

Accepted Answer

While you can configure your own syslog server, LogCentral provides significant advantages including managed infrastructure, compliance features, security, and cost-effectiveness. See our Self-Hosted page for a comparison.

Question 29

Where can I learn more about your providers' environmental commitments?

Accepted Answer

You can learn more about our providers' environmental commitments and sustainability practices on our Environment page. We work with providers who share our commitment to environmental responsibility.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)