Apple macOS 14 (Sonoma) Security Technical Implementation Guide

The Apple macOS 14 (Sonoma) Security Technical Implementation Guide (V2 R4) has 156 STIG checks. New to STIG checklists? Read What is a STIG checklist?, CKL vs CKLB, and STIG vs SCAP benchmark.

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Severity

Version

V2 · R4

CurrentPublished Wed Oct 01 2025

The macOS system must enable time synchronization daemon.

Apple macOS 14 (Sonoma) Security Technical Implementation Guide

Assessment Title

Rule Text

The macOS system must enable time synchronization daemon.

Description

Discussion Text

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.

Satisfies: SRG-OS-000355-GPOS-00143,SRG-OS-000356-GPOS-00144

New to STIG checklists? Read What is a STIG checklist? and CKL vs CKLB.

Objective

V-259451

Rule

SV-259451r1038944_rule

Severity

medium

Rule Version

APPL-14-000180

Documentable

false

IA Controls

NIST SP 800-53

Rev 5

Assessment Procedure

Check Text

Verify the macOS system is configured to enable time synchronization daemon with the following command:

/bin/launchctl list | /usr/bin/grep -c com.apple.timed

If the result is not "1", this is a finding.

Implementation Procedure

Fix Text

Configure the macOS system to enable time synchronization daemon with the following command:

/bin/launchctl load -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.timed.plist

STIG check 31 of 156 in the Apple macOS 14 (Sonoma) STIG checklist

← Previous · V-259450The macOS system must be configured to use an authorized time server.Next · V-259452 →The macOS system must be configured to audit all administrative action events.