# Clock Synchronization

## Overview

To ensure consistency, accuracy, and compliance with security standards, we provide guidelines for synchronizing your systems with our clock. Accurate timekeeping is crucial for data integrity, audit trails, incident response, and maintaining compliance with ISO 27001 and ISO 27017.

## How to synchronize your system clock with ours

Our systems use the **Amazon Time Sync Service**, a reliable and accurate time source from AWS. Follow the steps below to configure your system for synchronization.

### For Linux systems (Amazon Linux, Ubuntu, RHEL, CentOS, etc.)

1. Ensure **Chrony** is installed (default on most distributions):

```bash
   sudo yum install -y chrony  # For Amazon Linux, RHEL, CentOS
   sudo apt install -y chrony  # For Ubuntu, Debian
   ```

2. Edit the **Chrony configuration file** (`/etc/chrony.conf`) and add:

```bash
   server 169.254.169.123 prefer iburst
   ```

3. Restart the Chrony service to apply the changes:

```bash
   sudo systemctl restart chronyd
   sudo systemctl enable chronyd
   ```

4. Verify synchronization:

```bash
   chronyc tracking
   ```

### For Windows systems

1. Open **Command Prompt** as Administrator.
2. Run the following command to set AWS as the time source:

```bash
   w32tm /config /manualpeerlist:"169.254.169.123",0x8 /syncfromflags:manual /update
   ```

3. Force synchronization immediately:

```bash
   w32tm /resync
   ```

4. Verify the sync status:

```bash
   w32tm /query /status
   ```

## Monitoring & maintenance

- Regularly check synchronization status to ensure accurate timekeeping.
- Set up alerts for time drift deviations beyond acceptable thresholds.
- Periodically review your configuration to ensure continued compliance.

By implementing these steps, you ensure accurate system records, effective security monitoring, and alignment with international security standards.

Updated on 2026-06-18