Secure Observability as a Driver of Digital Trust: A Sociotechnical Perspective

Abstract

This exploration positions secure observability as a fundamental driver of digital trust across societal infrastructure, transcending its technical origins to become a sociotechnical imperative with profound implications for institutional legitimacy. By examining secure observability through multiple lenses—regulatory compliance, economic resilience, ethical governance, and democratic accountability—the article reveals how these frameworks contribute to maintaining critical services, protecting sensitive information, and ensuring system integrity. The integration of security principles into observability architectures creates a foundation upon which various stakeholders depend for continuous access to vital digital services while simultaneously strengthening privacy protections and enabling transparent accountability. The findings demonstrate that secure observability represents both technical architecture and social infrastructure, with benefits extending beyond organizational boundaries to broader societal outcomes that support equitable digital transformation in an increasingly connected world.