The system clock must be synchronized to an authoritative DoD time source.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
GEN000240-ESXI5-000058	GEN000240-ESXI5-000058	GEN000240-ESXI5-000058_rule		Medium

Description
To assure the accuracy of the system clock, it must be synchronized with an authoritative time source within DoD. Many system functions, including time-based login and activity restrictions, automated reports, system logs, and audit records depend on an accurate system clock. If there is no confidence in the correctness of the system clock, time-based functions may not operate as intended and records may be of diminished value.

Description

To assure the accuracy of the system clock, it must be synchronized with an authoritative time source within DoD. Many system functions, including time-based login and activity restrictions, automated reports, system logs, and audit records depend on an accurate system clock. If there is no confidence in the correctness of the system clock, time-based functions may not operate as intended and records may be of diminished value.

STIG	Date
VMware ESXi v5 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2013-01-15

Details

Check Text ( C-GEN000240-ESXI5-000058_chk )
From the vSphere Client: Select the host and click "Configuration >> Time Configuration". Select the properties link and chose 'Options'. Select NTP Settings to view configured NTP servers. If NTP is not synchronized with an authoritative time source within DoD, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-GEN000240-ESXI5-000058_fix)
From the vSphere Client: Select the host and click "Configuration >> Time Configuration". Select the properties link and chose 'Options'. From the General tab start the NTP service and select "Start and stop with host". From the NTP Settings tab click the ' Add' button to add the organization-defined, authoritative time source within DoD NTP servers.