Audit Levels

Every operation in VaultCrux can run at one of three audit levels that control the depth of verification and the strength of the proof trail.

Light mode is for everyday work. Queries return fast results with basic citation tracking. Source chunks are identified but not deeply verified. This is the right mode for exploration, drafting, and iterative research where speed matters more than formal proof.

Verified mode adds citation verification and coverage analysis. The system checks that every citation in the answer actually supports the claim it is attached to, and that the cited sources collectively cover the scope of the answer. Verified results come with a proof receipt, a COSE_Sign1 cryptographic envelope signed via Vault Transit that any party can independently verify.

Audit mode is the most thorough. It adds cross-reference checking (do different parts of the answer contradict each other?), produces a detailed evaluation transcript, and logs every intermediate ranking decision for forensic replay. Audit mode is designed for compliance reviews, high-stakes decisions, and any situation where the evidence trail needs to be defensible.

You set the audit level per query, per reserved answer, or as a default for your tenant. Higher audit levels consume more credits but produce stronger proof chains. The level is recorded in every receipt, so consumers always know how thoroughly the answer was verified.