To maintain a digital chain of custody in a network, a crucial practice is to ensure that all network infrastructure devices receive a valid clock using authenticated Network Time Protocol (NTP). Accurate and synchronized time stamps are essential for creating reliable and legally defensible logs. Authenticated NTP ensures that the time being set on devices is accurate and that the time source is verified, which is necessary for correlating logs from different devices and for forensic analysis.
References:
Digital forensics and network security protocols that underscore the importance of accurate timekeeping for maintaining a digital chain of custody.
NTP configuration guidelines for network devices, emphasizing the use of authentication to prevent tampering with clock settings.