Cis Cassandra5 1.6

---
name: cis-cassandra5-1.6
description: "Ensure clocks are synchronized on all nodes"
category: cis-cassandra
version: "1.1.0"
author: cyberstrike-official
tags: [cis, cassandra, linux, database, nosql, installation, time-sync, ntp]
cis_id: "1.6"
cis_benchmark: "CIS Apache Cassandra 5.0 Benchmark v1.1.0"
tech_stack: [linux, cassandra]
cwe_ids: []
chains_with: []
prerequisites: []
severity_boost: {}
---

# Ensure clocks are synchronized on all nodes (Manual)

## Profile Applicability

- Level 1 - Cassandra on Linux

## Description

Enabling Network Time Protocol (NTP), or some equivalent way, to keep clocks on all nodes in sync is critical.

## Rationale

Cassandra decides which data is most current between all of the nodes in the cluster based on timestamps. It is paramount to ensure all clocks are in-sync, otherwise the most current data may not be returned or worse, marked for deletion.

## Impact

None

## Audit Procedure

Depending on the Linux installation this may be checked by executing the following command on each node:

```bash
ps -aef | grep ntp

OR

ps -aef | grep chronyd

OR

timedatectl status | grep NTP
```

If NTP is not configured or clocks are out-of-sync then this is a finding.

## Remediation

Install and start the time protocol on every node in the Cassandra cluster.

## Default Value

No default value - depends on system configuration.

## References

None

## CIS Controls

| Controls Version | Control                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | IG 1 | IG 2 | IG 3 |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---- | ---- | ---- |
| v8               | 8.4 Standardize Time Synchronization<br/>Standardize time synchronization. Configure at least two synchronized time sources across enterprise assets, where supported.                                                          |      | ●    | ●    |
| v7               | 6.1 Utilize Three Synchronized Time Sources<br/>Use at least three synchronized time sources from which all servers and network devices retrieve time information on a regular basis so that timestamps in logs are consistent. |      | ●    | ●    |