What retention period do you set for monitoring log data?

The retention period for monitoring logs depends on the monitoring objectives and data volume. Usually, logs are stored for a few days to a few weeks (for example, 7-30 days) for real-time analysis and quick response.

If logs are needed for long-term auditing or trend analysis, they can be archived and stored longer — from several months to a year. It is important to consider storage costs and data security requirements.

In practice, the following are often established:

• 7-14 days for detailed monitoring and debugging;
• 30-90 days for analytics and reporting;
• Archiving old logs with the possibility of restoration if necessary.

Thus, the retention period is chosen based on a balance between the usefulness of the data and the costs of storing it.