Ensure Logging and Cloud Monitoring is Enabled (Automated)
Scanned 9/3/2026
Install to Claude Code
npx -y skills add CyberStrikeus/CyberStrike --skill cis-gke-v180-5.7.1 --agent claude-codeInstalls into .claude/skills of the current project.
Are you the author of Cis Gke V180 5.7.1?
Add the live security badge to your README — it updates automatically with every re-scan.
[](https://www.skillsdirectory.com/skills/cyberstrikeus-cis-gke-v180-5-7-1)More formats (shields.io, HTML) on the badges page.
---
name: cis-gke-v180-5.7.1
description: "Ensure Logging and Cloud Monitoring is Enabled (Automated)"
category: cis-gke
version: "1.8.0"
author: cyberstrike-official
tags: [cis, gke, kubernetes, gcp, logging, cloud-monitoring, stackdriver, auditd]
cis_id: "5.7.1"
cis_benchmark: "CIS Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) Benchmark v1.8.0"
tech_stack: [kubernetes, gcp, gke]
cwe_ids: []
chains_with: []
prerequisites: []
severity_boost: {}
---
# 5.7.1 Ensure Logging and Cloud Monitoring is Enabled (Automated)
## Profile Applicability
- Level 1
## Description
Send logs and metrics to a remote aggregator to mitigate the risk of local tampering in the event of a breach.
## Rationale
Exporting logs and metrics to a dedicated, persistent datastore such as Cloud Operations for GKE ensures availability of audit data following a cluster security event, and provides a central location for analysis of log and metric data collated from multiple sources.
## Audit
Using Google Cloud Console:
LOGGING AND CLOUD MONITORING SUPPORT (PREFERRED):
1. Go to Kubernetes Engine by visiting https://console.cloud.google.com/kubernetes/list.
2. From the list of clusters, click on the cluster of interest.
3. Under the details pane, within the Features section, ensure that `Logging` is `Enabled`.
4. Also ensure that `Cloud Monitoring` is `Enabled`.
LEGACY STACKDRIVER SUPPORT:
This option cannot be check in the GCP console.
Using Command Line:
LOGGING AND CLOUD MONITORING SUPPORT (PREFERRED):
First define 2 variable for Cluster Name and Zone and then run the following commands:
```
gcloud container clusters describe $CLUSTER_NAME --zone $COMPUTE_ZONE --format json | jq '.loggingService'
gcloud container clusters describe $CLUSTER_NAME --zone $COMPUTE_ZONE --format json | jq '.monitoringService'
```
The output of the above commands should return `logging.googleapis.com/kubernetes` and `monitoring.googleapis.com/kubernetes` respectively if Logging and Cloud Monitoring is Enabled.
LEGACY STACKDRIVER SUPPORT:
Note: This functionality was decommissioned on 31st March 2021, kept here for posterity (see: https://cloud.google.com/stackdriver/docs/deprecations/legacy for more information)
Both Logging and Monitoring support must be enabled.
For Logging, run the following command:
```
gcloud container clusters describe $CLUSTER_NAME --zone $COMPUTE_ZONE --format json | jq '.loggingService'
```
The output should return `logging.googleapis.com` if Legacy Stackdriver Logging is Enabled.
For Monitoring, run the following command:
```
gcloud container clusters describe $CLUSTER_NAME --zone $COMPUTE_ZONE --format json | jq '.monitoringService'
```
The output should return `monitoring.googleapis.com` if Legacy Stackdriver Monitoring is Enabled.
## Remediation
Using Google Cloud Console:
To enable Logging:
1. Go to Kubernetes Engine by visiting: https://console.cloud.google.com/kubernetes/list.
2. Select the cluster for which Logging is disabled.
3. Under the details pane, within the Features section, click on the pencil icon named `Edit logging`.
4. Check the box next to `Enable Logging`.
5. In the drop-down Components box, select the components to be logged.
6. Click `SAVE CHANGES`, and wait for the cluster to update.
To enable Cloud Monitoring:
1. Go to Kubernetes Engine by visiting: https://console.cloud.google.com/kubernetes/list.
2. Select the cluster for which Logging is disabled.
3. Under the details pane, within the Features section, click on the pencil icon named `Edit Cloud Monitoring`.
4. Check the box next to `Enable Cloud Monitoring`.
5. In the drop-down Components box, select the components to be logged.
6. Click `SAVE CHANGES`, and wait for the cluster to update.
Using Command Line:
To enable Logging for an existing cluster, run the following command:
```
gcloud container clusters update <cluster_name> --zone <compute_zone> --logging=<components_to_be_logged>
```
See https://cloud.google.com/sdk/gcloud/reference/container/clusters/update#--logging for a list of available components for logging.
To enable Cloud Monitoring for an existing cluster, run the following command:
```
gcloud container clusters update <cluster_name> --zone <compute_zone> --monitoring=<components_to_be_logged>
```
See https://cloud.google.com/sdk/gcloud/reference/container/clusters/update#--monitoring for a list of available components for Cloud Monitoring.
## Default Value
Logging and Cloud Monitoring is enabled by default starting in GKE version 1.14; Legacy Logging and Monitoring support is enabled by default for earlier versions.
## References
1. https://cloud.google.com/stackdriver/docs/solutions/gke/observing
2. https://cloud.google.com/stackdriver/docs/solutions/gke/managing-logs
3. https://cloud.google.com/stackdriver/docs/solutions/gke/installing
4. https://cloud.google.com/sdk/gcloud/reference/container/clusters/update#--logging
5. https://cloud.google.com/sdk/gcloud/reference/container/clusters/update#--monitoring
## CIS Controls
| Controls Version | Control | IG 1 | IG 2 | IG 3 |
| ---------------- | -------------------------- | ---- | ---- | ---- |
| v8 | 8.2 Collect Audit Logs | x | x | x |
| v7 | 6.2 Activate audit logging | x | x | x |
Is this your skill, or is something wrong with this listing? Request removal or report an issue. Author removals are honored within 72 hours.
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!