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MON-11: Time Stamps

MON 10 — Critical Detect

Mechanisms exist to configure Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services (TAAS) to use an authoritative time source to generate time stamps for event logs and security-relevant telemetry.

Renumbered: Formerly MON-07 in SCF 2025.4.

Code reused: In SCF 2025.4 and earlier, MON-11 was Monitoring For Information Disclosure. That control is now MON-19.

Control Question: Does the organization configure Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services (TAAS) to use an authoritative time source to generate time stamps for event logs?

General (25)
Framework Mapping Values
GovRAMP AU-08
GovRAMP Low AU-08
GovRAMP Low+ AU-08
GovRAMP Moderate AU-08
GovRAMP High AU-08
IEC 62443-3-3 2013 SR 2.11
IEC 62443-4-2 2019 CR 2.11
NIST 800-53 R4 AU-8
NIST 800-53 R5.2 AU-08
NIST 800-53B R5 (low) (source) AU-08
NIST 800-53B R5 (moderate) (source) AU-08
NIST 800-53B R5 (high) (source) AU-08
NIST 800-82 R3 AU-08
NIST 800-82 R3 LOW OT Overlay AU-08
NIST 800-82 R3 MODERATE OT Overlay AU-08
NIST 800-82 R3 HIGH OT Overlay AU-08
NIST 800-171 R3 (source) 03.03.02.a.02 03.03.07.a
NIST 800-171A (source) 3.3.7[a] 3.3.7[b]
NIST 800-171A R3 (source) A.03.03.02.a.02 A.03.03.07.ODP[01] A.03.03.07.a A.03.03.07.b[01] A.03.03.07.b[02]
OWASP Top 10 2025 A09:2025
PCI DSS 4.0.1 (source) 10.2 10.6 10.6.1 10.6.2 10.6.3
PCI DSS 4.0.1 SAQ A-EP (source) 10.6.1 10.6.2 10.6.3
PCI DSS 4.0.1 SAQ C (source) 10.6.1 10.6.2 10.6.3
PCI DSS 4.0.1 SAQ D Merchant (source) 10.6.1 10.6.2 10.6.3
PCI DSS 4.0.1 SAQ D Service Provider (source) 10.6.1 10.6.2 10.6.3
US (11)
EMEA (3)
Framework Mapping Values
EMEA Germany C5 2026 OPS-10.01B.6 OPS-15.02B
EMEA Spain CCN-STIC 825 mp.info.4
EMEA EU DORA RTS 2024 Article 23.4
APAC (2)
Framework Mapping Values
APAC New Zealand NZISM 3.9 16.6.11.C.02
APAC Singapore CCOP CII 2026 6.1.4(a)
Americas (1)
Framework Mapping Values
Americas Canada ITSP-10-171 2025 03.03.02.A.02 03.03.07.A

Capability Maturity Model

Level 0 — Not Performed

Practices are non-existent, based on the inability to demonstrate an implemented and operational capability. A reasonable person would conclude the control is not being performed.

Level 1 — Performed Informally

Continuous Monitoring (MON) domain capabilities are ad hoc and inconsistent. Capability criteria associated with this control may include: ▪ Policies, standards & procedures associated with MON domain capabilities provide limited coverage due to the depth and breadth of the existing documentation. ▪ Event monitoring-related activities are decentralized (e.g., a localized/regionalized function) and uses non-standardized methods to implement secure, resilient and compliant practices. ▪ Monitoring is primarily reactive in nature, focused on identifying incidents that occurred. ▪ Event log reviews primarily rely on manual processes to identify anomalous behaviors.

Level 2 — Planned & Tracked

Continuous Monitoring (MON) capabilities are requirements-driven, but are not standardized across the entity (e.g., local/regional level consistency). Capability criteria associated with this control reasonably expect the following criteria to exist: ▪ Policies and standards associated with MON domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with MON domain capabilities are documented and maintained by process owners. ▪ IT and/or cybersecurity personnel work with business stakeholders and process owners to appropriately scope and reasonably implement cybersecurity and data protection controls associated with MON domain capabilities to address applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). ▪ Continuous monitoring-related controls are primarily administrative and preventative in nature (e.g., policies, standards and procedures & guidelines). ▪ Continuous monitoring may be a defined function (e.g., team or department) or assigned as an additional duty to existing IT and/or cybersecurity personnel.

Level 3 — Well Defined

Continuous Monitoring (MON) capabilities are standardized across the entity for applicability to People, Processes, Technologies, Data and/or Facilities (PPTDF) to ensure consistency for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). Capability criteria associated with this control reasonably expect the following criteria to exist: ▪ Policies and standards associated with MON domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity's Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team, or similar function. ▪ Cybersecurity personnel use a structured process via Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) to review and analyze logs. ▪ A Security Operations Center (SOC) team, or similar function, is appropriately staffed and supported to implement and maintain MON domain capabilities. ▪ Technology is leveraged to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of continuous monitoring operations (e.g., Security Incident Event Manager (SIEM)). ▪ The entity's Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team, or similar function, works with business stakeholders and process owners to appropriately scope and reasonably implement cybersecurity and data protection controls associated with MON domain capabilities to address Minimum Compliance Requirements (MCR) (e.g., applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements) and Discretionary Security Requirements (DSR) (e.g., entity-required controls). ▪ Secure Baseline Configurations (SBC) enforce security event logging to contain sufficient information to establish necessary details of activity and allow for forensics analysis. ▪ An implemented and operational capability exists to configure Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services (TAAS) to use an authoritative time source to generate time stamps for event logs.

Level 4 — Quantitatively Controlled

Utilize SCR-CMM Level 3 criteria definitions: ▪ There are no defined Level 4 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a quantitatively-controlled process is not necessary to operationalize this control. ▪ While it may be possible to develop “metrics-driven” capabilities for this control, the criteria would be organization-specific to define.

Level 5 — Continuously Improving

Utilize SCR-CMM Level 3 or Level 4 (if available) criteria definitions: ▪ There are no defined Level 5 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a continuously-improving process is not necessary to operationalize this control. ▪ Level 5 capabilities should be considered “world-class” where the control builds on Level 4 capabilities, but are continuously improving through Artificial Intelligence (AI) and/or Machine Learning (ML) technologies. ▪ While it may be possible to develop responsive capabilities for this control through the use of AI and/or ML technologies, the criteria would be organization-specific to define.

Assessment Objectives

  1. MON-11_A01 timestamps are recorded for audit records that meet organization-defined granularity of time measurement and that use Coordinated Universal Time, have a fixed local time offset from Coordinated Universal Time or include the local time offset as part of the timestamp.
  2. MON-11_A02 internal system clocks are used to generate time stamps for audit records.
  3. MON-11_A03 granularity of time measurement for audit record time stamps is defined.
  4. MON-11_A04 time stamps recorded in audit records meet an organization-defined granularity of time measurement.
  5. MON-11_A05 time stamps are recorded for audit records that meet <A.03.03.07.ODP[01]: granularity of time measurement>.
  6. MON-11_A06 Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services (TAAS) are configured to use an authoritative time source to generate time stamps for event logs and security-relevant telemetry.

Evidence Requirements

E-MON-12 Event Log Protection & Time Synchronization

Documented evidence of event log protection (access restriction, cryptographic protection, separate backup) and synchronization with an authoritative time source.

Event Log Monitoring

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • Secure Baseline Configurations (SBC)

Small

  • Secure Baseline Configurations (SBC)

Medium

  • Secure Baseline Configurations (SBC)

Large

  • Secure Baseline Configurations (SBC)

Enterprise

  • Secure Baseline Configurations (SBC)

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