FedRAMP - Time Stamps AU-8

Overview:
The information system:
a. Uses internal system clocks to generate time stamps for audit records; and
b. Records time stamps for audit records that can be mapped to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) or Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and meets [Assignment: organization-defined granularity of time measurement].

Supplemental Guidance:
Time stamps generated by the information system include date and time. Time is commonly expressed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), a modern continuation of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), or local time with an offset from UTC. Granularity of time measurements refers to the degree of synchronization between information system clocks and reference clocks, for example, clocks synchronizing within hundreds of milliseconds or within tens of milliseconds. Organizations may define different time granularities for different system components. Time service can also be critical to other security capabilities such as access control and identification and authentication, depending on the nature of the mechanisms used to support those capabilities.

Related controls:AU-3, AU-12.

Action Items:
1) Ensures that system clocks are set to an authoritative time source and audit logs reflect that time

Related Documents:
1) Audit and Accountability Policy

2) Logging and Monitoring Policy

3) Secure Systems Configuration Policy

Additional Guidance:
Moderate FedRAMP-Defined Assignment / Selection Parameters
none

Moderate Additional FedRAMP Requirements and Guidance
none