Time server

Without Network Time Protocol (NTP), it would be impossible to synchronize time across networked devices. However, more and more cyberattacks continue to target NTP as a potential vulnerability in network security. If you haven’t previously given it any thought, it’s critical you review how to secure this vital service against any external attack.

Cybersecurity has become an increasingly prevalent issue, especially due to the high number of online attacks during the pandemic. Despite a surge in spending by many organisations to bolster their network security, there often remain overlooked elements which continue to be vulnerable. One such element is time synchronization.

NTP (Network Time Protocol) is a networking protocol which synchronizes clocks in computers and other electronic devices, either over the internet or local networks. It has been in continual use since its creation in the 1980s by Dr David Mills, a professor at the University of Delaware.

Unlike multi-application devices or typical servers, Network Time Servers are designed to serve one specific purpose: the continuous and precise synchronisation of time across your network.

The following steps are those which are recommended to increase security for a Netsilon Time Server operating behind a firewall on a private network.

In the healthcare sector, accurate time can be the important information that will make the difference between life and death. No matter the size or scope of your medical facility, time is used in many different processes and systems, and ensuring its precision will increase patient care and efficiency.

Distributing accurate time is a vital part of sustaining network infrastructure. It’s also a critical element of network security, both when it comes to the expiry dates on certificates and timestamped system logs used for troubleshooting.

It’s approaching the end of another day, and as the clock on the office wall shows 5pm, your staff pack up and leave. However, what if that clock isn’t accurate? As your employees go out the door, you notice that your computer clock shows 4.55pm, which is actually the correct time. Someone leaving five minutes early doesn’t seem like an important matter. However, this lost time soon adds up when you start to consider a few basic factors.

Most of us check the time throughout the day, whether it’s looking at our watch, our mobile phone, our computer or the clock on the office wall.

What we might not consider though is how accurate each of these sources are, and whether they all display the same time. If they differ by just a few minutes, it’s not likely to have much of an effect on our daily lives. However, there are some situations where clocks being inaccurate or out of synchronization by even a minute can cause major issues, such as a transaction failing, or enabling fraud to occur.

When it comes to synchronizing time across network devices, the many free internet-based public time servers available can initially seem like an attractive option for your business. If such time servers exist, why should any organisation pay for an alternative with the same purpose? As is often true, the free option is usually far from the best, and there is a reason why an increasing number of customers are coming to Bodet to purchase accurate and reliable dedicated NTP(Network Time Protocol) time servers.