What is the main use of 'audit logs' in Splunk?

The primary function of audit logs in Splunk is to track user activities and configuration changes. These logs provide crucial information about who accessed the system, what actions were performed, and any modifications made to configurations. By maintaining a detailed record of user interactions and changes within the environment, organizations can ensure accountability, facilitate troubleshooting, and maintain security by understanding user behaviors and potential vulnerabilities. Audit logs are essential for compliance reasons as well, as they help organizations demonstrate adherence to policies and regulations regarding data handling and system access.

While monitoring system performance metrics can be important (as reflected in another choice), it does not encompass the specific tracking and accountability functions provided by audit logs. Logging data ingestion events pertains more to understanding how data enters the system rather than user interactions. Maintaining data security protocols is vital for overall system integrity but is broader and not the direct function of audit logs.