Overview
This policy ensures all organizational systems, applications, and cloud services maintain consistent and accurate time settings by synchronizing with designated, trusted time sources.
Enable Accurate Investigations
Provide definitive audit traceability and forensic integrity for all incident response activities.
Ensure Log Integrity
Prevent uncorrelated logs and incomplete reporting by enforcing consistent timestamps across all systems.
Strengthen Security Controls
Protect against replay attacks and time-based authentication failures that rely on clock drift.
Achieve & Prove Compliance
Meet strict time synchronization requirements from ISO 27001, GDPR, NIS2, DORA, and more.
Read Full Overview
The Time Synchronization Policy is a critical component for any organization aiming to maintain precise time settings across its IT infrastructure. By enforcing synchronization with trusted time sources, this policy ensures the accuracy of system clocks, which is vital for reliable event logging, secure communications, and forensic investigations. An accurate time synchronization system prevents issues such as uncorrelated logs, failed authentications, and incomplete regulatory reporting, which can undermine organizational security and compliance efforts. This policy applies to all infrastructure components, including servers, workstations, network devices, and IoT systems, as well as virtual and cloud environments like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. It mandates the use of approved Network Time Protocol (NTP) sources to establish a consistent, centralized time synchronization architecture. The policy is applicable to internal employees, contractors, and third-party service providers responsible for time-sensitive systems. The policy sets clear objectives, such as maintaining clock accuracy to enable reliable event correlation and regulatory compliance with standards like ISO 27001, GDPR, NIS2, and DORA. It also protects against replay attacks and time-based authentication failures. Key roles are defined, including the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Infrastructure Services Manager, to oversee policy implementation and time source management. Governance requirements include designating at least two independent NTP servers as trusted sources and ensuring logs of synchronization operations are retained for at least 12 months. Systems must synchronize clocks at boot time and regularly thereafter, with secure protocols and fallback sources for fault tolerance. The policy also outlines procedures for detecting and handling time drift beyond tolerances, ensuring anomalies are logged and addressed promptly. In the face of potential security incidents, accurate time synchronization offers relief and confidence, ensuring that organizations can swiftly correlate events, respond to incidents, and maintain the integrity of audit trails. This policy not only aligns with compliance mandates but also enhances operational reliability across all IT systems.
What’s Inside
Governance Requirements: Rules for selecting trusted NTP sources, defining clock drift tolerances, and pre-production checks.
Roles and Responsibilities: Clearly defined duties for the CISO, Infrastructure, System Owners, and SOC.
Cloud & Hybrid Time Management: Mandates for ensuring time consistency between on-prem and cloud systems.
Audit and Validation Mechanisms: Procedures for scheduled audits and scans to identify non-compliant systems.
Risk Treatment & Exceptions: A formal process for approving and managing exceptions with compensating controls.
Enforcement and Compliance: Clear consequences for non-compliant systems, including network isolation.
Built for Leaders, By Leaders
This policy isn't just a template; it's an audit-defensible document crafted by seasoned cybersecurity leaders. Every clause is designed for practical implementation within complex enterprise environments, ensuring you can meet auditor requirements without disrupting operational workflows.
Framework Compliance
🛡️ Supported Standards & Frameworks
This product is aligned with the following compliance frameworks, with detailed clause and control mappings.
| Framework | Covered Clauses / Controls |
|---|---|
| ISO/IEC 27001:2022 | Clause 8.1 |
| ISO/IEC 27002:2022 | Control 8.17 |
| NIST SP 800-53 Rev.5 | SC-45AU-8 |
| EU GDPR | Article 32 |
| EU NIS2 | Article 21(2)(e) |
| EU DORA | Articles 910 |
| COBIT 2019 | DSS05.04MEA03 |
Part of a Complete ISMS Toolkit
This policy is one of 37 documents in our complete toolkit, designed for comprehensive compliance.
100%
ISO 27001
95%
NIST
88%
NIS2
75%
DORA
70%
GDPR
Related Policies
Directly dependent on synchronized time to ensure event sequencing, log correlation, and incident investigation integrity across diverse systems.
Relies on accurate timestamps for forensic investigations, incident timelines, and chain-of-custody evidence.
Establishes the overarching mandate to ensure the integrity and traceability of all information systems, for which time accuracy is foundational.
Governs modifications to system configurations including time source adjustments, ensuring proper documentation, testing, and rollback plans.
About This Policy
The Clarysec Time Synchronization Policy provides an authoritative framework for ensuring all systems, applications, and devices across your IT estate maintain consistent and accurate time. By mandating synchronization with trusted NTP sources, this policy is fundamental for reliable logging, secure communications, and audit traceability. It directly supports compliance with ISO 27001 Annex A Control 8.17, NIST, GDPR, and other critical regulations, making it essential for any robust Information Security Management System (ISMS).
This policy's scope covers all infrastructure components, from on-premises servers and network devices to cloud environments (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) and IoT systems. It applies to any system that generates or consumes timestamped records, such as logs, alerts, or forensic evidence. The policy defines clear responsibilities for internal teams, contractors, and third-party providers, ensuring consistent enforcement and protecting the integrity of time-sensitive operations.
