Time synchronization: NTP vs PTP?

• A. PTP is for general networks; NTP for precision.
• B. Time sync ensures coordinated timestamps; NTP for general networks; PTP for precise timing in specialized systems.
• C. Both are identical in accuracy.
• D. Only PTP supports security.

Answer: (B)

Time synchronization protocols vary by the precision they deliver and where they’re used. Coordinating clocks across devices lets events be ordered correctly and logs line up. NTP is designed for general networks and Internet-scale use, providing accurate time across the wide Internet with typical accuracy in the milliseconds range, improving to microseconds on well-controlled local networks. PTP, or Precision Time Protocol, targets specialized systems that require very tight timing, using hardware timestamping and a master-slave clock structure to reach sub-microsecond to microsecond accuracy. The statement that NTP covers general networks while PTP provides precise timing for specialized systems captures the practical distinction between the two and why each is chosen for its environment. The other options don’t fit because they misstate where each protocol is used or the level of precision, and security isn’t the defining difference between them.