Accurate and Precise Time Synchronization

Candela Lanforge Ice


Accurate Time Sync

Everyone involved in the finance sector rely on a resilient digital ecosystem, with the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) coming into effect in the US shortly, has brought a renewed urgency to the conversation. Organizations must be able to respond and recover from all types of ICT related disruptions and threats.

One important lesson is accurate timing systems are vital, not optional, in cybersecurity. Of course, DORA’s scope extends beyond time, but its requirements clearly involve it. Because of incident reporting and risk management obligations, financial institutions will have to maintain high standards of time synchronisation, timing data and process documentation, and resilient timing that’s resistant to cyber-attacks.

In a distributed computing environment, it is impossible to determine what caused what unless all devices’ clocks agree and the billions of daily transactions are time stamped accurately. To achieve this your time source must be: 

  • Traceable to a credible source of UTC, the world’s consensus time that is recognized by governments such as NIST (US time standard), so that timestamps can be compared across public service organizations and other records.
  • Provable with logs of timekeeping accuracy retained for at least 5 years in order to prove that time was correct in the past.
  • Accurate so that intervals between timestamps can be confidently calculated, even up to within one millisecond (thousandth of a second). NENA (National emergency number association) guidelines suggests a 1-milisecond synchronization NENA
  • Secure: Reliable logging of the accuracy of all time sources, along with ancillary data that helps prove the time was correct. Provide alerts and warnings when time sources misbehave allowing for rapid response.
  • Interoperability: Industry standard protocols seamlessly integrate to customer systems safeguarding legacy investment
  • Evidencing: Provides traceability and verification, even years later

Precise and resilient time can be distributed from a global network satellite system (GNSS) using a master clock like the SecureSync2400 or a terrestrial source using a Traceable Time as a Service from Hoptroff.  

Hoptroff Time Sync for Power Substations

The Need For Substation Time Sync

Substations require time sync for many measurement applications. The most demanding is I-V sensing both sides of a transformer, requiring 4800 Hz samples to be timestamped ideally with 250ns local granularity (IEC Class A), but others are equally important, such as comparing synchrophasor measurements over transmission line distances, requiring traceability to UTC (IEC Classes B-F).

Substations within a 100-mile radius are managed by a single Remote Control Station. Local synchronization within the 100-mile radius should ideally be 250ns for Class A applications.

Control Stations within a power distribution network should be synchronized ideally to within 10μs of UTC for Classes B-F

Hoptroff Time Sync Solution

Hoptroff operates a global time synchronization network, operating resilient UTC timescales worldwide. It obtains time from multiple sources including terrestrial connections direct to national UTC labs to provide spoof-proof
service, and distributes it to customers over engineered IP networks to Critical Infrastructure facilities including Finance and Media.

As shown in the figure below, Hoptroff would provide boundary clocks at the Remote Control Station that connect to the network to obtain time and distribute it to the substations. A monitoring server reports back to Hoptroff that that Merging Units are correctly requesting time. All devices and connectivity are dual and diverse to ensure service resilience.


Resilient Time Sync for Substations diagram

Resilient Time Sync for Substations — 250ns locally and 10μs to UTC

Time Sync Accuracy Requirements

The IEC 61850-5:2013 Standard quantifies time sync accuracy requirements as detailed in the table below.

Class Accuracy Application
A 1μs Local Phasor and I-V measurements
B 100μs UTC Automated fault recording
C 1ms UTC Time tagging transient events
D 10ms UTC Power quality measurements
E 100ms UTC Slow event monitoring and logging
F 1s UTC Non time-critical monitoring

Hoptroff Time Sync Benefits

Cost – Typically we provide cost savings of 50% compared to in-house timing installations.

Opex –  not Capex, with an annual fee for time service, monitoring and support replacing an up-front cost.

GPS Resilience –  The Hoptroff Time Sync service, with terrestrial connections to National Measurement Institutes including NIST in the United States, is unaffected by GPS denial and spoofing in the field, conforming to US Executive Order 13905.

Support – Hoptroff monitors the time service to Merging Units and provides timely advice if any devices are not requesting time correctly.

Hassle Free –  time management with less hardware deployed in the field being subjected to the elements.

Synchronizing Time in a System of Systems (SoS) in the Process Control Industry

In the process control industry, precise time synchronization is essential for ensuring coordinated operations, reliable data acquisition, and efficient control of interconnected systems. The Safran SecureSync time server is a critical solution that addresses the challenges of synchronizing system of systems (SoS) within this industry. By providing robust time synchronization capabilities, the SecureSync enables seamless coordination, enhances operational efficiency, and ensures the integrity of critical processes. Let’s explore the significance of the SecureSync in synchronizing SoS within the process control industry, its technical advantages, and its impact on operational excellence.

The Complexity of System of Systems in Process Control

The process control industry comprises a multitude of interconnected systems that rely on accurate synchronization to achieve optimal performance. These “system of systems” include various components such as sensors, actuators, controllers, and supervisory systems that work together to automate and monitor industrial processes. In this complex environment, precise synchronization is crucial to ensure seamless coordination, reliable data acquisition, and accurate control.

Reliable Time Synchronization for Coordination

Accurate time synchronization is fundamental to the coordination of system of systems in the process control industry. Precise and consistent time references facilitate efficient communication, data exchange, and coordinated decision-making across different subsystems. SecureSync offers highly accurate time synchronization, ensuring that all components within the system of systems operate on the same time scale, eliminating discrepancies, and enhancing overall performance.

Seamless Data Acquisition and Control

Accurate and synchronized timekeeping provided by SecureSync significantly enhances data acquisition and control processes. By ensuring consistent time stamps across various data sources, SecureSync enables efficient data integration and analysis. This synchronized data acquisition allows process control engineers to gain real-time insights, detect anomalies, and implement timely corrective actions, leading to improved operational efficiency and enhanced system performance.

Critical Infrastructure Protection and Security

In the process control industry, protecting critical infrastructure and ensuring data security are paramount concerns. Accurate time synchronization plays a crucial role in securing system of systems against cyber threats, data breaches, and unauthorized access. The SecureSync 2400 incorporates advanced security features and secure protocols, providing robust protection and ensuring the integrity of time synchronization in critical process control environments.

Compliance with Industry Standards

The process control industry operates under stringent regulatory frameworks and industry standards. Compliance with these standards requires accurate and traceable time synchronization. The SecureSync assists organizations in meeting these compliance obligations, providing compliant time synchronization for auditing, reporting, and adherence to industry regulations.

Scalability and Flexibility for System of Systems

The SecureSync is designed to support the scalability and flexibility requirements of system of systems within the process control industry. Its modular architecture enables seamless integration into existing infrastructure, accommodating a wide range of system configurations and diverse protocols. Whether in small-scale installations or large industrial plants, the SecureSync offers the flexibility to synchronize system of systems effectively, regardless of the complexity or scale of the operation.

Conclusion

Accurate time synchronization is crucial for achieving operational excellence in the process control industry, ensuring coordinated operations, reliable data acquisition, and the integrity of critical processes. The Safran SecureSync plays a pivotal role in synchronizing system of systems, providing highly accurate time synchronization capabilities. By leveraging the SecureSync, organizations in the process control industry can enhance operational efficiency, ensure data integrity, and meet regulatory compliance requirements. The SecureSync time server is a cornerstone in the pursuit of excellence within the process control industry, enabling seamless coordination, enhancing security, and optimizing performance across interconnected systems.

Traceable Time Keeps Getting Easier

Accurate, traceable time is needed for many different applications. Whether it’s meeting banking regulations, providing verifiable timestamps on medical records, providing a common sync reference for security and access control systems, or even ensuring the performance of basic distributed network operations, accurate, traceable time is needed. However, getting access to a traceable time source hasn’t always been easy.

Traditionally, the most common way to get accurate, traceable time is to deploy a GNSS based time server with an antenna receiving time from one or more of the GNSS constellations. For sure, this is the gold standard for most time and sync applications. With time from GNSS, accuracy to UTC is measured in nanoseconds. And because time is coming from an official time source via the different GNSS constellations, that time is also traceable. This means the accuracy of the time source being used by a network can be verified to be true within some threshold of error.

Time from GNSS based time servers may be the most commonly available way to get accurate, traceable time, but deploying them isn’t always simple. In order to receive the GNSS signals, an antenna must be installed, and that can sometimes pose significant challenges. In some cases, such as in leased spaces, it’s not possible to get permission to install an antenna on the roof or access isn’t possible. In other cases, the costs for installation combined with a reoccurring cost to keep an antenna on the roof makes installing an antenna cost prohibitive.

To complicate matters, while the nanosecond level accuracy achieved from GNSS is nice to have, it’s overkill for many applications. So the entire concept of needing to install a GNSS Antenna and incur the associated cost and hassle just for traceable time can be frustrating. Eliminating that frustration was the purpose behind Traceable Time as a Service (TTaaS).

Traceable Time as a Service delivers accurate, traceable time over a secure VPN connection to provide a traceable time reference for your network. Because TTaaS is delivered over a VPN, setup is easy and familiar, especially compared to installing antennas, coax cable, surge arrestors, amplifiers, and more.

In addition to being easy to install, TTaaS is also accurate. Using just a VPN connection, accuracies can range between microseconds to milliseconds offset to UTC / NIST / etc. Accuracy aside, the important thing is that you know what your offset is, can verify it, and can therefore ensure traceability. That’s what TTaaS does.

Traceable Time as a Service by Hoptroff, has a network of timing hubs at datacenters around the globe, getting time from GNSS, this network connects directly to national labs such as RISE in Sweden and NIST in the US. Using proprietary techniques, Hoptroff’s software is able to accurately determine time offset by comparing time at your location to the time at other locations within that network. That capability combined with the direct connection to national labs and GNSS allow for clear, easy traceability between the time delivered to you over TTaaS and the timing hubs it’s coming from.

The concept of Time as a Service may be new to some people, but it’s been around for quite some time. Until somewhat recently, services were mostly setup to accommodate certain industries, such as Financial trading, and were only available within certain datacenters or co-location facilities. But with new advances in networking technology and protocols, it’s becoming possible to make those kinds of timing services more widely available and to more markets that need traceable time. And because services like TTaaS are over a VPN and are so easy to setup and maintain, the shift towards these kinds of services will continue to grow.

10 Reasons Why Time is Critical for Trading Systems

Time synchronization is crucial in financial trading systems for several reasons. Here are the top 10:

1. Order Execution

Time synchronization ensures that order execution occurs accurately and consistently across different trading platforms. It allows traders to enter and execute orders at the intended time, avoiding discrepancies or delays that could impact trade outcomes.

2. Market Data Analysis

Financial trading relies heavily on real-time market data analysis. Time synchronization ensures that traders and algorithms receive market data feeds simultaneously, enabling them to make informed decisions based on the most up-to-date information.

3. Trade Settlement

Accurate time synchronization is essential for trade settlement processes, such as trade matching, confirmation, and clearing. It helps ensure that transactions occur in the correct sequence, reducing the risk of errors, disputes, or failed settlements.

4. Regulatory Compliance

Financial markets operate under strict regulations that often require precise timekeeping. Time synchronization enables compliance with reporting requirements, audit trails, and regulatory mandates, such as recording trade timestamps or meeting transaction reporting deadlines.

5. Event Sequence Reconstruction

In the event of a trade dispute or investigation, time synchronization allows for the accurate reconstruction of events. Traders can rely on synchronized timestamps to establish the sequence of trades, identify potential issues, and resolve disputes more effectively.

6. Algorithmic Trading

Many trading strategies rely on complex algorithms that execute trades based on specific market conditions. Time synchronization ensures that these algorithms operate with consistent timing, preventing discrepancies between different components of the system and optimizing trade execution.

7. Market Data Aggregation

Financial institutions often aggregate market data from various sources for analysis and decision-making. Accurate time synchronization allows for precise data alignment, ensuring that information from different exchanges or data providers is combined correctly and avoiding data inconsistencies.

8. High-Frequency Trading (HFT)

In high-frequency trading, where trades are executed in microseconds or even nanoseconds, time synchronization becomes critical. HFT firms depend on synchronized clocks to measure and react to small market inefficiencies and execute trades at lightning-fast speeds.

9. Risk Management

Effective risk management in financial trading requires accurate time synchronization. It allows risk models to factor in the timing of trades, market events, and other variables, enabling institutions to assess and mitigate risks more accurately.

10. CROSS-Platform Compatibility

Traders often operate across multiple trading platforms, such as exchanges, dark pools, or alternative trading systems. Time synchronization ensures compatibility between these platforms, facilitating the seamless transfer of orders and information across different systems.

Overall, time synchronization is essential in financial trading systems to ensure accurate order execution, reliable data analysis, regulatory compliance, risk management, and seamless integration across various platforms. It plays a vital role in maintaining fairness, transparency, and efficiency in the global financial markets.

Unparalleled Efficiency At Scale With SecureSync In Data Operations

Introduction

In the era of big data and distributed systems, achieving efficiency at scale is crucial for data operators. The Safran SecureSync emerges as a game-changing solution, providing unparalleled efficiency and reliability in time synchronization for data operations. We will explore the technical details behind the SecureSync and demonstrate how data operators can gain significant efficiencies at scale by leveraging its advanced features.

Exceptional Precision and Reliability

The SecureSync boasts exceptional precision and reliability, ensuring accurate time synchronization across distributed systems. Its innovative architecture combines precision timing components and advanced technologies, delivering ultra-low phase noise and frequency accuracy. With a holdover stability of <1 µs/day, the SecureSync guarantees uninterrupted synchronization, even in the event of temporary loss of reference signals.

High Scalability and Flexibility

Data operators often deal with expanding infrastructures and evolving requirements. The SecureSync is designed to address these scalability challenges. It supports a high number of simultaneous network clients, accommodating large-scale distributed systems effortlessly. Whether deployed in a small cluster or a global network, the SecureSync seamlessly integrates with existing infrastructure, providing precise time synchronization across all nodes.

Robust Timing Redundancy

The SecureSync ensures reliability in demanding operational environments through its timing redundancy capabilities. It incorporates dual-redundant power supplies and accepts multiple timing sources, minimizing the risk of single points of failure. Redundant timing sources and power supplies guarantee continuous synchronization and prevent disruptions that could impact data operations.

Advanced Network Time Protocol (NTP) and Precision Time Protocol (PTP) Support

SecureSync supports both NTP and PTP, enabling compatibility with a wide range of distributed systems. NTP provides accurate time synchronization for applications that require millisecond-level accuracy, while PTP offers sub-microsecond synchronization for applications with stringent timing requirements. The SecureSync’s ability to support both protocols ensures flexibility in integrating with various data operations, optimizing performance and efficiency.

Compliance and Traceability

Data operators often face stringent compliance requirements and the need for traceability in their operations. The SecureSync addresses these concerns by adhering to industry standards for time synchronization. It provides traceable and auditable event timestamps, facilitating compliance with regulatory frameworks and simplifying the audit process for data operations.

Comprehensive Management and Monitoring Capabilities

To efficiently manage and monitor distributed systems, the SecureSync offers advanced management and monitoring features. Its intuitive web-based interface allows for centralized control, configuration, and monitoring of multiple SecureSync units. The interface provides real-time status updates, performance metrics, and alerts, ensuring proactive management and facilitating rapid troubleshooting.

Conclusion

The SecureSync from Safran empowers data operators to achieve unparalleled efficiency at scale in their distributed systems. With exceptional precision, scalability, redundancy, protocol support, compliance adherence, and comprehensive management capabilities, the SecureSync proves to be a reliable and efficient solution for accurate time synchronization.

By leveraging the technical capabilities of the SecureSync, data operators can ensure seamless data operations, mitigate risks of inconsistencies, and optimize performance at scale. With its advanced features and robust design, the SecureSync emerges as a key enabler for data operators seeking efficiency, reliability, and compliance in their distributed data environments.

5 fintech trends you should be watching in 2023

service-experience-dashboards

In the fast-paced world of global financial services, gaining competitive advantage is a synonym to staying ahead of the curve. With banks, stock exchanges, credit institutions, investment firms still struggling in their push for innovation, fintech startups are sprouting everywhere, deploying groundbreaking technology, and questioning traditional banking. With that in mind, let’s take a look at 5 fintech trends that will undoubtedly shape the future of global financial services. 


5 fintech trends

1. Accurate and precise time synchronization

There are over 100 billion microprocessors with clocks but they aren’t all displaying the correct time. As the world’s critical infrastructure and global financial markets become more digitised, this incongruence becomes more worrying.

In a distributed computing environment, it is impossible to determine what caused what unless all devices’ clocks agree and the billions of daily transactions are time stamped accurately.

Time is distributed through the global network satellite system (GNSS) which has come under criticism in recent years due to its vulnerability. A slight interference in this system could cause major disruptions in navigation and global trading activities, not to mention added complications when investigating the sequence of transactions in suspicious trading, or the proof of accurate timing needed to be MiFID II and CAT compliant.

Precise and resilient software-based time from both satellite and terrestrial sources addresses this vulnerability. Hoptroff’s Traceable Time as a Service (TTaaS®), synchronizes server clocks to UTC through both satellite and terrestrial sources. It’s more resilient, scalable, and more easily deployed requiring no additional hardware.

This article will touch upon four more fintech trends of 2023, and why accurate and precise time synchronization is the key to their development.

2. Cryptocurrency

The speed and convenience at which transactions are processed is becoming increasingly important. This has opened the door to digital, or crypto currencies and real time payments (RTPs).

Cryptocurrency transactions are recorded on a decentralised ledger or blockchain and although they’re not easily accessible to everyone, this will change as banks open their virtual doors.

CBDCs are a form of digital currency centrally controlled by national banks, backed with real money and issued over blockchain. China is already piloting their CBDC eCNY in four cities and is anticipated to introduce it fully in 2023.

Why accurate and precise time synchronization matters in cryptocurrency

While CBDCs are regulated by a country’s central bank and should therefore encourage financial inclusion, their centralised nature means certain design choices could increase anonymity for individuals involved in nefarious activities. This is why accurate time stamping at the point they are exchanged to and from real cash is so important. This is not possible without accurate and precise time synchronization.

Many central banks are already looking into the assurances offered by timestamping every transaction of CBDCs rather than only when the digital currency is exchanged for real cash.

3. The Metaverse

No one is denying the revolutionary potential of the Metaverse. As a digital 3D space designed for virtual interactions it holds the key to countless new opportunities for fintech companies. Although a boost in sales productivity may be expected as people will be able to meet face-to-face with clients from around the world in a single afternoon, added convenience comes with complications.

As cross-border teams collaborate, the online software tools through which they interact need to be reliable – this begins with precise timing synchronization. Whether it’s Google Docs or a new haptic tool, devices showing different times can cause unnecessary difficulties when collaborating through the Metaverse.

Why accurate and precise time synchronization matters in the metaverse.

The metaverse must be a real-time system over computing distributed all around the world. That can’t possibly work unless the processing and data flow are synchronized through precise timing.

4. Smart contracts

Smart contracts are locked software programs stored on a blockchain. These programs begin actions automatically following the completion of contractual obligations. Such actions could include paying both sides a sum in cryptocurrency, or simply releasing protected data to one party involved. This negates the need for an intermediary such as an escrow, in which funds would ordinarily be held by a third party until the conditions are met.

This fintech trend expects companies to further test the utility of smart contracts in 2023. Decentralised finance (DeFi) and other companies may wish to investigate how smart contracts safeguard transactional security and resilience in global financial services.

Why accurate and precise time synchronization matters for smart contracts

Cryptocurrency ensures the record of the digital ledger cannot be modified after the fact, even by the ledger owner, without it being obvious that it has been modified. Hoptroff TTaaS® can provide time for crypto traders by putting trusted and traceable timestamps in the ledger so there can be no doubt about when events happened – as it stands right now, the ledgers only prove the sequence in which events happened, not precisely when.

5. Machine Learning Operations (MLOs)

Machine learning employs algorithms to help computers and other machines understand and predict the behaviours and intentions behind digital interactions.

Innumerable figures and endless calculations drive the fintech industry meaning it will likely be a primary beneficiary of MLOs in 2023. The enormity of this data requires complex and intelligent analysis and reporting. This would be incredibly costly and time consuming using traditional rule-based computing that relies on constant human input.

MLOs are already transforming global financial services areas like risk management, fraud analysis and sales forecasting.

Why accurate and precise time synchronization matters for MLOs

Improving data reliability betters the AI model. Most data is collected in a delayed fashion, so to understand interactions between, for example, various sensors, those sensors need traceable and secure timestamps to bring the picture into focus.

Ready to learn more? 

When thousands of transactions and data get processed every second, a high-level of accuracy and reliability is required for critical infrastructure services. Accurate timing solution like Hoptroff Traceable Time as a Service is ready to be rolled out without the purchase and installation of additional timing infrastructure.

(TTaaS®) is a range of network and software-based timing solutions that are simple, resilient, and cost-effective.

Whether you need the security of verifiable time for compliance, or precision timing in your IT network and business-critical documents, our obsession with accuracy will transform your business.


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Time Synchronization for Secure Networks Using Fiber

Government and military networks often utilize the concept of unclassified networks vs classified networks to manage levels of information security. Since a complete “air-gap” around a highly sensitive network is not practical, every data connection is evaluated as a security risk.

When it comes to accurate synchronization traceable to time standards on a classified network, we lose the ability to deploy a GPS receiver due to restrictions on wireless connections. The best choice for a “wired” connection is fiber optics since they do not emit nor receive electromagnetic energy. In its SecureSync synchronization platform, Orolia has deployed fiber optics for the transfer of any digital synchronization signal that can be utilized for synchronization of isolated networks.

A pair of SecureSyncs are deployed on opposites sides of a security boundary. The unit on the unclassified network is deployed with a GPS receiver and transmits highly accurate timing data to the unit on the classified network via IRIG time code. Then this “IRIG slave” operates as the master clock for all time-sensitive devices on the classified network. In this scheme, a single master can serve many isolated networks via multiple IRIG ports.

The IRIG connection is one-way. IRIG time code is not a communication protocol therefore, there are no requests nor hand-shaking. A time and date message is streamed point-to-point. The transmitter of IRIG data cannot receive any information and the receiver cannot transmit any information to comply with the practices of network isolation.

At the time of this writing, Orolia utilizes Avago Technologies’ fiber optic ports (transmitter P/N = HFBR-1414TZ; receiver P/N = HFBR-2416TZ). However, if further qualification is required contact us to verify the current configuration.



Accurate Time with Network Isolation

  • Compatible with SIPRNET and NIPRNET
  • No wireless connection (GPS receiver)
  • One-way communication via IRIG timing protocol does not allow unauthorized access
  • Fiber optic connections protect against unauthorized access

SecureSync as a Flexible Time and Frequency Reference

  • GPS master deployed on unclassified network
  • IRIG slave deployed on classified network
  • IRIG signaling via 820 nm multi-mode ST fiber connectors)
  • IRIG DCLS option with 4 outputs (model 1204-1E) on master
  • IRIG DCLS option with 1 input and 2 outputs (model 1204-27) on slave

Keeping Your Clocks Accurate

Electronic clocks control critical functions in many applications. However, clocks are often designed for low cost rather than for keeping accurate time.

Even fairly accurate computer clocks will vary due to manufacturing defects, changes in temperature, electric and magnetic interference, the age of the quartz crystal, or even system load. Even the smallest errors in keeping time can significantly add up over a long period of time. Consider two clocks that are synchronized at the beginning of the year, but one consistently takes an extra 0.04 milliseconds to increment itself by a second. By the end of a year, the two clocks will differ in time by more than 20 minutes. If a clock is off by just 10 parts per million, it will gain or lose almost a second a day.

Synchronization to GPS

The GPS system synchronizes to 24 satellites each with three or four on-board atomic clocks. The US Naval Observatory monitors the satellites clocks and sends control signals to minimize the differences between their atomic clocks and a master atomic clock for accuracy and traceable to national and international standards (known as UTC). For time synchronizing a clock, the GPS signal is received and distributed by a master clock, time server, or primary reference source to a device, system, or network so the local clocks are synchronized to UTC. Typical accuracies range from better than 500 nanoseconds to 1 millisecond anywhere on earth. The GPS clock synchronization eliminates the need for manual clock setting (an error-prone process). The benefits of GPS synchronization are numerous and include: legally validated time stamps, regulatory compliance, secure networking, and operational efficiency. At the same time you can synchronize all your devices such as

Computer clocks (servers and workstations)

  • Network devices (routers, switches, firewalls)
  • Telecommunications networks (PBXs, MUXs, SONET networks, wireless systems)
  • Critical devices and networks (9-1-1 centers, command and control operations, military test ranges, radar systems, time displays)
  • Physical security systems (video, building access controls, networks)
  • IT security systems (cryptography, authentication, encryption)
  • Facility wall clocks

Don’t Spend Time on Time

Network Instruments Connection Dynamics

Adjusting Clocks for Daylight Saving Time:

Daylight saving time comes twice a year, once in March and again in November. This can be a big hassle for maintenance teams, facility managers, IT staff, and anyone else in charge of keeping a building running smoothly. Adjusting for daylight saving time is easier if you have a synchronized clock system that performs DST updates automatically. Such a smooth transition means you can address other maintenance needs in the building, because who wants to spend time on time?

Calculate your lost time!

If keeping everyone in sync and on time is critical to your operations, then daylight saving time can be a big hassle. By adjusting each clock manually you’re spending a lot of time going from clock to clock adjusting each clock, and sometimes clocks are not easily accessible needing a ladder or lift, or waiting for a room to become available.

How Much Time can You Save?

If you have 100 clocks to manage and each clock takes 5 minutes to adjust, that takes you 8 hours twice a year to get everyone synchronized.

5 minutes/clock x 100 clocks x 2 DST events = 1000 minutes per year

1000 minutes ÷ 60 = 16 hours/Year

Its Time to Upgrade

Different technologies can be used to synchronize your clocks to meet any building requirement.


POE Network Clocks





PoE Network Clocks

Wireless Clocks

Wifi Clocks