Audit Logs
Track all changes and activities in your SSP Manager location with comprehensive audit logging. Audit logs provide a complete history of who did what and when, helping you maintain security, compliance, and accountability.
Overview
Audit logs automatically record:
- User actions and changes
- System events
- Data modifications
- Access attempts
- Configuration changes
- Financial transactions
Key Benefits:
- 🔍 Full visibility into system activity
- 🔒 Enhanced security and fraud prevention
- 📊 Compliance with regulatory requirements
- 🐛 Troubleshooting and debugging
- 👥 Staff accountability
Accessing Audit Logs
Navigation: Locations → [Your Location] → Audit Logs
Required Permission: Manager or Owner role
What Gets Logged
User Activities
-
Login Events
- Successful logins
- Failed login attempts
- Two-factor authentication events
- Session timeouts
- Logout events
-
User Management
- User created
- User updated
- User deleted
- Role changes
- Permission modifications
- User invitations sent
- Invitation accepted/declined
Menu Changes
- Menu item created
- Menu item updated (with before/after values)
- Menu item deleted
- Price changes
- Menu category changes
- Modifier changes
- Item availability changes
Order Events
- Order created
- Order modified
- Order cancelled
- Refund issued
- Discount applied
- Payment processed
- Payment voided
Financial Events
- Cash drawer opened
- Drawer counted
- Bank deposit recorded
- Payout initiated
- Transaction voided
- Tip adjusted
Configuration Changes
- Location settings updated
- Operating hours changed
- Tax rules modified
- Printer settings changed
- Integration connected/disconnected
- Payment gateway configured
Table Management
- Table created/updated/deleted
- Reservation made/modified/cancelled
- Table assigned to server
- Table status changed
Audit Log Interface
Log Entry Details
Each audit log entry contains:
Header Information:
- Timestamp: Exact date and time of event
- User: Who performed the action
- Action Type: What was done
- Status: Success, Failed, or Warning
Event Details:
- Resource Type (e.g., Menu Item, User, Order)
- Resource ID (unique identifier)
- Before/After Values (for updates)
- IP Address
- Device Information
- Session ID
Example Log Entry
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 📝 Menu Item Updated │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Timestamp: Nov 8, 2025 2:45 PM PST │
│ User: john.smith@restaurant.com (Manager) │
│ Resource: Menu Item #1234 "Margherita Pizza" │
│ IP Address: 192.168.1.45 │
│ Device: Chrome on Windows │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Changes: │
│ Price: $12.99 → $13.99 │
│ Status: Active → Active │
│ Updated: Description text modified │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Filtering and Searching
Filter Options
By Date Range:
- Today
- Yesterday
- Last 7 days
- Last 30 days
- Last 90 days
- Custom range
By User:
- Select specific user
- Filter by role
- Show system events
By Event Type:
- Authentication events
- Menu changes
- Order events
- User management
- Configuration changes
- Financial events
- All events
By Resource:
- Specific menu item
- Specific user
- Specific order
- Specific table
By Status:
- Success
- Failed
- Warning
- All statuses
Search Functionality
Search by:
- Keyword in description
- User email
- Resource ID
- IP address
- Action type
Example Searches:
- "refund" - Find all refund events
- "john@" - Find all actions by John
- "192.168.1" - Find events from specific IP range
- "price" - Find all price changes
Common Use Cases
1. Investigating Price Discrepancies
Scenario: Customer complains about unexpected price change
Steps:
- Go to Audit Logs
- Filter by "Menu Changes"
- Search for the menu item name
- Review price change history
- Identify who made the change and when
2. Tracking Failed Login Attempts
Scenario: Suspicious login activity detected
Steps:
- Filter by "Authentication Events"
- Select "Failed" status
- Review failed login attempts
- Check for unusual patterns (multiple failures, unknown IPs)
- Take appropriate security action
3. Compliance Audits
Scenario: Need to provide audit trail for regulatory compliance
Steps:
- Set date range for audit period
- Filter by relevant event types
- Export logs to CSV
- Review and provide to auditors
4. Training and Accountability
Scenario: Training new staff or reviewing performance
Steps:
- Filter by specific user
- Review their actions over time period
- Identify training needs or compliance issues
- Use as basis for coaching
5. Troubleshooting System Issues
Scenario: Feature not working as expected
Steps:
- Set date range to when issue occurred
- Filter by relevant event type
- Review system events and errors
- Identify root cause
- Contact support with log details if needed
Exporting Audit Logs
Export Options
Formats Available:
- CSV (Comma Separated Values)
- PDF (Formatted report)
- JSON (Machine-readable)
Export Process:
- Apply desired filters
- Click Export button
- Select format
- Choose date range (if not already filtered)
- Click Download
What's Included:
- All visible log entries
- All columns (timestamp, user, action, details)
- Applied filters noted in export
Export Limits:
- Maximum 10,000 entries per export
- For larger datasets, use multiple date ranges
For regular compliance reporting, use the scheduled export feature to automatically email audit logs monthly or quarterly.
Retention Policy
Standard Retention:
- All audit logs retained for 90 days
- After 90 days, logs are archived
- Archived logs available on request
Extended Retention (Pro & Enterprise plans):
- Retain logs for 1 year or 7 years
- Configurable per location
- Higher storage costs apply
Permanent Retention:
- Critical financial events retained permanently
- Order transactions
- Refunds and voids
- Payment processing
Security and Privacy
Access Control
Who Can View Audit Logs:
- Organization owners: Full access to all locations
- Location managers: Access to their location only
- System administrators: Read-only access
- Regular staff: No access
Audit Log Immutability:
- Logs cannot be edited or deleted
- Ensures integrity for compliance
- Only system administrators can archive old logs
Data Privacy
Personal Information:
- User emails and names logged
- IP addresses recorded
- Device information captured
GDPR Compliance:
- Right to data export (user can request their audit trail)
- Data retention limits
- Anonymization of archived logs after user deletion
PCI Compliance:
- Payment card numbers never logged
- Only last 4 digits and transaction IDs recorded
- Compliant with PCI-DSS requirements
Automated Alerts
Configurable Alerts
Set up automatic notifications for specific events:
Security Alerts:
- Multiple failed login attempts
- User created or deleted
- Permission changes
- Access from new IP address or device
Financial Alerts:
- Refund issued over $X amount
- Large discount applied
- Cash drawer variance
- Void or comp threshold exceeded
Operational Alerts:
- Menu price changed
- Location settings modified
- Integration disconnected
- Printer offline
Setup:
- Go to Location Settings → Notifications
- Enable Audit Log Alerts
- Select alert types
- Choose notification method (email, SMS, in-app)
- Set threshold values
Advanced Features
Batch Operations Tracking
When bulk changes are made:
- All individual changes logged separately
- Batch operation ID links them together
- Can filter to show only batch operations
- Summary view of batch shows total changes
Example:
- Bulk price update of 50 menu items
- Shows as single "Batch Operation" entry
- Expand to see all 50 individual changes
API Activity Logging
For locations using SSP Manager API:
- All API calls logged
- Includes API key used
- Request/response logged (sanitized)
- Rate limiting events tracked
Integration Events
For third-party integrations:
- Data sync events
- Integration errors
- Configuration changes
- Authentication events
Best Practices
Regular Review
Weekly:
- Review failed login attempts
- Check for unusual activity
- Verify price changes are authorized
Monthly:
- Export logs for backup
- Review financial events
- Audit user access and roles
Quarterly:
- Compliance review
- Update alert configurations
- Archive old exports
Investigation Workflow
-
Identify the Issue
- What happened?
- When did it occur?
- Who is affected?
-
Filter Relevant Logs
- Set appropriate date range
- Select event type
- Choose user if known
-
Analyze Timeline
- Review events in chronological order
- Look for patterns
- Identify related events
-
Take Action
- Correct the issue
- Update processes/training if needed
- Escalate if malicious activity suspected
-
Document Findings
- Export relevant logs
- Note resolution
- Update procedures if needed
Troubleshooting
Logs Not Appearing
Possible Causes:
- Insufficient permissions (need Manager role)
- Events occurred outside current filter range
- Browser cache issue
Solutions:
- Verify your role with location owner
- Expand date range filter
- Clear browser cache and refresh
- Try "All Events" filter
Export Not Working
Possible Causes:
- Too many entries selected (>10,000)
- Browser blocking download
- Network issue
Solutions:
- Narrow date range to reduce entries
- Check browser pop-up settings
- Try different export format
- Check internet connection
Missing Event Details
Possible Causes:
- System event (no user action)
- Automated process
- API action
Solutions:
- Check "User" field for "System" or "API"
- Review integration logs if applicable
- Contact support if unexpected
Compliance and Reporting
Regulatory Compliance
SOX Compliance:
- Financial transaction logging
- Segregation of duties tracking
- Access control auditing
GDPR Compliance:
- Personal data access logged
- Consent tracking
- Data export/deletion events
FDA (Food Service):
- Food safety events
- Temperature logging
- Expiration tracking
Standard Reports
Available Pre-Built Reports:
-
User Activity Report
- All actions by user
- Time period summary
- Most common actions
-
Financial Changes Report
- Price modifications
- Discounts applied
- Refunds and voids
-
Security Events Report
- Login history
- Failed attempts
- Role changes
-
System Configuration Report
- Settings changes
- Integration events
- Hardware configuration
Generate Report:
- Audit Logs → Reports tab
- Select report type
- Choose date range
- Click Generate
- Download PDF or CSV
FAQ
How long are audit logs retained?
Standard: 90 days. Pro/Enterprise: 1-7 years configurable. Financial events retained permanently.
Can audit logs be edited or deleted?
No. Logs are immutable to ensure compliance and integrity.
Who can see audit logs?
Only users with Manager or Owner roles. Regular staff cannot access audit logs.
Are API calls logged?
Yes. All API activity is logged with request details and API key used.
Can I get alerts for specific events?
Yes. Configure automated alerts in Location Settings → Notifications → Audit Alerts.
What if I need logs older than the retention period?
Contact support. Archived logs can be retrieved for compliance or legal purposes.
Do audit logs impact system performance?
No. Logging is asynchronous and does not affect operational performance.
Can I integrate audit logs with external systems?
Yes (Enterprise plan). Use our API to stream audit logs to your SIEM or logging platform.
Related Features
- Employee Management - Managing team roles and permissions
- Location Settings - Configuring location preferences
- Reports - Business intelligence and analytics
- Sign In & Security - Account security features
Getting Help
Need assistance with audit logs?
- 📧 Email: support@ssppos.com
- 💬 Live Chat: Available in dashboard
- 📚 Help Center: docs.ssppos.com
Maintain full visibility and accountability with SSP Manager Audit Logs.