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NIST 800-171 R-3.3.7

Synchronize System Clocks

Official citation: 3.3.7

Class: core · Severity: medium

Statement of the obligation — verify against source

3.3.7

What it means

Generate audit timestamps from internal clocks that are compared and synchronized with an authoritative time source. Use Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) or local time offset from UTC, synchronized precisely enough for your needs (you can set different granularity per component). Accurate, uniform time matters across networked systems and also supports other controls such as access control and authentication.

Educational reference only — not legal advice. Consult a qualified assessor or attorney for binding compliance determinations.