Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) — Question 282

The PRIMARY benefit of a centralized time server is that it:

Answer options

• A. decreases the likelihood of an unrecoverable systems failure.
• B. reduces individual time-of-day requests by client applications.
• C. allows decentralized logs to be kept in synchronization.
• D. is required by password synchronization programs.

Correct answer: C

Explanation

The correct answer is C because a centralized time server ensures that all logs from different systems are synchronized to the same time, which is crucial for accurate tracking and troubleshooting. Option A is incorrect because while a centralized time server may help with reliability, it does not directly prevent unrecoverable system failures. Option B is misleading as it implies a reduction in requests rather than the primary benefit. Option D is irrelevant as password synchronization can function independently of time synchronization.