Network Time Protocol (NTP) is one of the oldest Internet protocols in use. It enables the synchronization of clocks on computer networks to within a few milliseconds of standard universal coordinated time (UTC). It is a crucial component of Internet security.
The NTP’s security mechanisms were designed back in an era when most Internet traffic was trusted and the risk of attack was unlikely. Due to the continued exponential expansion of the Internet, these mechanisms have become outdated and need to be redesigned. Work has been underway for many years in the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) to develop replacement technology – Network Time Security (NTS) – that will help to secure the Internet’s time synchronization infrastructure well into the future.
Learn more: IETF Datatracker