The macOS system must enable time synchronization daemon.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-259451	APPL-14-000180	SV-259451r1038944_rule		Medium

Description

The macOS time synchronization daemon (timed) must be enabled for proper time synchronization to an authorized time server. Note: The time synchronization daemon is enabled by default on macOS. Satisfies: SRG-OS-000355-GPOS-00143,SRG-OS-000356-GPOS-00144

STIG	Date
Apple macOS 14 (Sonoma) Security Technical Implementation Guide	2024-12-04

Details

Check Text (C-63190r940973_chk)

Verify the macOS system is configured to enable time synchronization daemon with the following command:

/bin/launchctl list | /usr/bin/grep -c com.apple.timed

If the result is not "1", this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-63098r940974_fix)

Configure the macOS system to enable time synchronization daemon with the following command:

/bin/launchctl load -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.timed.plist