(ISC)2 Certified in Cybersecurity Practice Exam

Which protocol would help synchronize devices within a company's internal IT environment?

1. FTP (File Transfer Protocol)

2. NTP (Network Time Protocol)

3. SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)

4. HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol)

The correct answer is: NTP (Network Time Protocol)

NTP, or Network Time Protocol, is specifically designed to synchronize the clocks of computers and other devices across a network. Accurate timekeeping is vital for various network functions, including logging events, scheduling tasks, and running applications that depend on time-sensitive operations. By ensuring that all devices within a company's internal IT environment have synchronized time, NTP helps prevent discrepancies that could lead to issues in data integrity, system performance, and security. In contrast, FTP is primarily used for transferring files between systems, SMTP handles the sending of emails, and HTTP is focused on delivering web content. While these protocols play critical roles in their respective domains, they do not provide the functionality required to synchronize devices' clocks or maintain time accuracy across an internal network. Therefore, NTP is the essential protocol for achieving synchronization within an organization's IT environment.