What is Accountability?
Accountability Definition: Accountability ensures that account management has assurance that only authorized users are accessing the system and using it properly.
Understanding Accountability
Accountability ensures that account management has assurance that only authorized users are accessing the system and using it properly. This principle establishes that individuals are responsible for their actions while using information systems and can be traced to specific activities or transactions. Accountability is a core requirement in frameworks like ISO 27001, COBIT, and NIST 800-53, and is required by regulations like GDPR and HIPAA. Organizations implement accountability through comprehensive logging, monitoring, non-repudiation mechanisms, and clear policy enforcement. For example, financial institutions implement detailed audit logs for all transactions to ensure every action can be traced to a specific user account. Related terms: Non-repudiation, Audit logging, Monitoring, Identity management, Traceability.