What role does audit logging play in web security?

Audit logging plays a crucial role in web security by providing a system for recording security events and user activities. This documentation is essential for monitoring and compliance purposes. When security incidents occur, having detailed logs allows organizations to trace back actions, determine how an event unfolded, identify potential security breaches, and ensure that policies and regulations are being followed. These logs serve as a valuable resource during investigations and audits, helping organizations to improve their security posture by recognizing patterns of behavior that may indicate a security threat or vulnerability.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately reflect the function of audit logging. While eliminating all security threats sounds ideal, it's an unrealistic expectation; no single measure can completely eradicate threats. Speeding up network performance is unrelated to audit logging, which is about collecting data rather than enhancing performance metrics. Similarly, access restriction is a different aspect of web security; it involves controlling user permissions rather than logging events related to those permissions. Thus, the primary importance of audit logging lies in its ability to maintain a comprehensive record of security-related activities, which is integral to effective security management.