Mapped to NIST 800-171 Requirement: 3.3.4
CMMC Assessment Objective: AU.L2-3.3.4[b]
What This Objective Means
Your organization must ensure that all systems generating audit logs are synchronized to a trusted time source. This ensures:
• Log entries can be accurately correlated across systems
• Security events (e.g., login attempts, file access, privilege changes) align across infrastructure
• Forensic investigations and incident response efforts are reliable
Timestamps must be consistent—especially when logs are used as legal or regulatory evidence.
Why It Matters
If logs from different systems are out of sync:
• You can’t trust the sequence of events
• Incident investigations become error-prone or invalid
• Logs may be rejected in audits or litigation due to unreliable timing
Time synchronization is critical for log integrity, correlation, and traceability.
How to Implement It
• Use NTP (Network Time Protocol) to synchronize clocks across:
◦ Workstations and servers
◦ Network devices (routers, switches, firewalls)
◦ Security appliances
◦ Cloud-based systems (via platform-native time sync services)
• Ensure systems point to a common time source (e.g., a domain controller or trusted NTP pool)
• Configure automatic synchronization and verify it at regular intervals
• Document the time sync configuration and its maintenance
Evidence the Assessor Will Look For
• System configuration settings showing enabled NTP or time sync service
• Screenshots of time sync settings from system control panels, command line, or GPO
• Logs showing time synchronization success and error handling
• Documentation or policy defining time sync sources and update intervals
Common Gaps
• Systems are not using NTP or are pointing to different, unsynchronized sources
• Logging appliances and endpoint systems are out of sync
• Time settings are manually configured, not enforced automatically
How Cuick Trac Helps
Cuick Trac supports this requirement by:
• Enforcing time synchronization across all enclave systems using a unified time source
• Monitoring clock sync health and alerting if drift is detected
• Helping document time synchronization settings for assessments
• Reducing time drift issues common in hybrid or distributed environments
With Cuick Trac, your logs tell a story—with timestamps you can trust.
Final CTA
Every second counts—especially when you’re logging it.
Schedule a Cuick Trac demo and synchronize your systems for audit integrity and forensic readiness.