Trusted Time (NTP) Management
Requirement: This module addresses IACS UR E26 (Section 4.4) and E27 requirements for logging and monitoring. It mandates that all cyber-relevant assets must maintain synchronized time to ensure the integrity of audit trails and forensic data.
In a maritime cyber incident, time is the most important variable. Network Time Protocol (NTP) ensures that every device on the vessel—from the Bridge ECDIS to the Engine Room PLC—shares a single, accurate timestamp. Without this, correlating logs during a failure becomes technically impossible.
The Danger of “Time Drift”
Time drift occurs when internal hardware clocks diverge. In OT environments, even a 5-minute difference can have catastrophic security implications:
Log Incoherence
During a breach, unsynchronized logs show events happening out of order. You cannot determine if the Engine Alarm caused the Network Failure or vice versa, leading to Forensic Dead-Ends.
Certificate Expiry
Modern encryption (SSL/TLS) and 2FA codes are time-sensitive. If an AMS server drifts, it will reject legitimate encrypted traffic, causing System-Wide Communication Loss.
Replay Attacks
Hackers can intercept and “replay” old commands if the system’s clock is lagging, as the device may believe a stale command is actually current and valid.
Zone-Based Time Architecture
To maintain E26 compliance, we utilize a tiered distribution model. This ensures that even if the IT network is compromised, the OT Zone maintains its “Trusted Time.”
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ZTNA and iDMZ—The Gold Standard for OT Remote Access
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