diff --git a/roles/os_hardening/defaults/main.yml b/roles/os_hardening/defaults/main.yml
index b32d3eded..3c002f8a2 100644
--- a/roles/os_hardening/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/roles/os_hardening/defaults/main.yml
@@ -428,7 +428,7 @@ os_mnt_var_log_src: ""
 os_mnt_var_log_options: 'rw,nosuid,nodev,noexec'
 os_mnt_var_log_filesystem: "ext4"
 
-os_mnt_var_log_audit_dir_mode: '0640'
+os_mnt_var_log_audit_dir_mode: '0700'
 os_mnt_var_log_audit_enabled: false
 os_mnt_var_log_audit_src: ""
 os_mnt_var_log_audit_options: 'rw,nosuid,nodev,noexec'