V-217414

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. The network device must utilize 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 from the primary time source.

Check Content

Determine if the BIG-IP appliance is configured to synchronize internal information system clocks with the primary and secondary time sources located in different geographic regions using redundant authoritative time sources. 

Navigate to the BIG-IP System manager >> Configuration >> Device >> NTP.

Verify there is a primary time source and a secondary time source configured that are in different geographic regions.

If the BIG-IP appliance is not configured to synchronize internal information system clocks with the primary and secondary time sources located in different geographic regions using redundant authoritative time sources, this is a finding.