# Cis GCP Cos 4.1.2.2

> Ensure journald is configured to write logfiles to persistent disk

- Skill: `cyberstrikeus/cis-gcp-cos-4-1-2-2` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add cyberstrikeus/cis-gcp-cos-4-1-2-2`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/cyberstrikeus/cis-gcp-cos-4-1-2-2/raw
- Safety review: PASS (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: DevOps & Infra
- Author: cyberstrikeus (https://skillmd.com/u/cyberstrikeus)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/cyberstrikeus/cis-gcp-cos-4-1-2-2

---


# 4.1.2.2 Ensure journald is configured to write logfiles to persistent disk (Automated)

## Description

Data from journald may be stored in volatile memory or persisted locally on the server. Logs in memory will be lost upon a system reboot. By persisting logs to local disk on the server they are protected from loss.

## Rationale

Writing log data to disk will provide the ability to forensically reconstruct events which may have impacted the operations or security of a system even after a system crash or reboot.

## Audit Procedure

Review `/etc/systemd/journald.conf` and verify that logs are persisted to disk:

```bash
# grep -e Storage /etc/systemd/journald.conf
# Storage=persistent
```

## Expected Result

The output should show `Storage=persistent`.

## Remediation

Edit the `/etc/systemd/journald.conf` file and add the following line:

```
Storage=persistent
```

`/etc` is stateless on Container-Optimized OS. Therefore, `/etc` cannot be used to make these changes persistent across reboots. The steps mentioned above needs to be performed after every boot.

## Default Value

The main configuration file `/etc/systemd/journald.conf` is read before any of the custom \*.conf files. If there are custom configs present, they override the main configuration parameters.

## References

1. https://github.com/konstruktoid/hardening/blob/master/systemd.adoc#etcsystemdjournaldconf

## CIS Controls

| Controls Version | Control                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | IG 1 | IG 2 | IG 3 |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ---- | ---- | ---- |
| v8               | **8.2 Collect Audit Logs** - Collect audit logs. Ensure that logging, per the enterprise's audit log management process, has been enabled across enterprise assets.                                                                                                                        | x    | x    | x    |
| v8               | **8.5 Collect Detailed Audit Logs** - Configure detailed audit logging for enterprise assets containing sensitive data. Include event source, date, username, timestamp, source addresses, destination addresses, and other useful elements that could assist in a forensic investigation. |      | x    | x    |
| v7               | **6.2 Activate audit logging** - Ensure that local logging has been enabled on all systems and networking devices.                                                                                                                                                                         | x    | x    | x    |
| v7               | **6.3 Enable Detailed Logging** - Enable system logging to include detailed information such as an event source, date, user, timestamp, source addresses, destination addresses, and other useful elements.                                                                                |      | x    | x    |

## Profile

- Level 1 - Server