id: os_time_server_enabled
title: Enable Time Synchronization Daemon
discussion: |
  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.
references:
  nist:
    cce:
      macos_27:
        - CCE-XXXXX-X
      macos_26:
        - CCE-95325-7
      macos_15:
        - CCE-94319-1
      macos_14:
        - CCE-92916-6
    800-53r5:
      - AU-12(1)
      - SC-45(1)
    800-171r3:
      - 03.03.07
  disa:
    cci:
      - CCI-002046
      - CCI-001891
      - CCI-004923
      - CCI-004926
      - CCI-004922
    srg:
      - SRG-OS-000355-GPOS-00143
      - SRG-OS-000356-GPOS-00144
      - SRG-OS-000785-GPOS-00250
    disa_stig:
      macos_26:
        - APPL-26-000180
      macos_15:
        - APPL-15-000180
      macos_14:
        - APPL-14-000180
    cmmc:
      - AU.L2-3.3.7
  bzk:
    bio:
      - 8.17
  cis:
    benchmark:
      macos_26:
        - 2.3.2.2 (level 1)
      macos_15:
        - 2.3.2.2 (level 1)
      macos_14:
        - 2.3.2.2 (level 1)
    controls_v8:
      - 8.4
platforms:
  macOS:
    '27.0': {}
    '26.0':
      benchmarks:
        - name: cis_lvl1
        - name: cis_lvl2
        - name: disa_stig
          severity: medium
        - name: nlmapgov_plus
        - name: nlmapgov_base
    '15.0':
      benchmarks:
        - name: cis_lvl1
        - name: cis_lvl2
        - name: disa_stig
          severity: medium
        - name: nlmapgov_plus
        - name: nlmapgov_base
      enforcement_info:
        check:
          shell: /bin/launchctl list | /usr/bin/grep -c com.apple.timed
          result:
            integer: 1
    enforcement_info:
      check:
        shell: /bin/launchctl print system | /usr/bin/grep -c -E '\tcom.apple.timed'
        result:
          integer: 1
      fix:
        shell: /bin/launchctl load -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.timed.plist
        additional_info: 'NOTE: The service `timed` cannot be unloaded or loaded while System Integrity Protection (SIP) is enabled.'
tags:
  - 800-171
  - 800-53r5_low
  - 800-53r5_moderate
  - 800-53r5_high
  - cisv8
  - cnssi-1253_low
  - cnssi-1253_high
  - cmmc_lvl2
  - cnssi-1253_moderate
