Time Synchronization Policy - SME

This Time Synchronization Policy (P23S) establishes clear, mandatory requirements for configuring and maintaining accurate time synchronization on all organizational systems involved in storing, transmitting, or processing business-relevant data. As an SME policy, P23S is designed specifically for organizations with streamlined IT roles, such as General Manager and IT Support Provider, yet achieves compliance with ISO/IEC 27001:2022, GDPR, NIS2, DORA, and other frameworks. The purpose of this policy is to uphold the integrity of system logs, facilitate accurate incident investigation, and ensure defensibility in audits through strict enforcement of automated time synchronization controls. It requires that all company-owned, remote, and cloud-hosted systems, including user endpoints, servers, firewalls, and SaaS platforms, rely on trusted, cryptographically-secured time sources (e.g., authenticated NTP servers or cloud-provider tools). Devices must synchronize at least twice daily and remain within defined thresholds (±5 seconds for workstations; ±1 second for servers and security devices). Time discrepancies outside thresholds trigger alerts and must be promptly corrected to prevent threats to data traceability or regulatory standing. The policy assigns responsibilities to the General Manager, IT Support Provider, and a Privacy Coordinator or Compliance Officer. The General Manager oversees and approves the policy or any exceptions, while IT Support configures, monitors, and documents time-sync status. Employees and contractors are strictly prohibited from altering device time settings; any sync issues must be escalated immediately. Regular system health checks and periodic reviews help ensure ongoing compliance, while exception handling and compensating controls are carefully governed and documented. Time synchronization is explicitly linked with other core SME policies, including Logging and Monitoring, Incident Response, Data Protection and Privacy, Asset Management, and Third-Party Security. Together, these policies provide cohesive coverage, ensuring that logs used for compliance, security monitoring, or breach response are accurate both in content and in timestamp. The document highlights a rigorous review and update process, mandating annual reassessment by the General Manager, IT, and Privacy roles, with updates triggered by technology changes or new regulatory obligations. This holistic approach gives SMEs the capability to adhere to enterprise-grade security standards without the need for complex, resource-intensive oversight structures.