V-255651

Discussion

The loss of connectivity to a particular authoritative time source will result in the loss of time synchronization (free-run mode) and increasingly inaccurate time stamps on audit events and other functions. Multiple time sources provide redundancy by including a secondary source. Time synchronization is usually a hierarchy; clients synchronize time to a local source while that source synchronizes its time to a more accurate source. CounterACT appliances must use an authoritative time server and/or be configured to use redundant authoritative time sources. This requirement is related to the comparison done in CCI-001891. DoD-approved solutions consist of a combination of a primary and secondary time source using a combination or multiple instances of the following: a time server designated for the appropriate DoD network (NIPRNet/SIPRNet); United States Naval Observatory (USNO) time servers; and/or the Global Positioning System (GPS). The secondary time source must be located in a different geographic region than the primary time source.

Check Content

Determine if CounterACT is configured to synchronize internal clocks with the organization's primary and secondary NTP servers.

1. Open an SSH session and authenticate to the CounterACT command line.
2. Verify a primary and secondary NTP server has been configured with the command "fstool ntp".

If CounterACT is not configured to synchronize internal information system clocks with the organization's primary and secondary NTP servers, this is a finding.