Timestamping Authority responds to timestamp requests to prove the existence of certain data before a given time. To respond these requests, Timestamping Authority connects with different components.  

In this architecture:

• Multiple clients send requests to the timestamping service of Timestamping Authority.
• One or several Hardware Security Modules (HSMs) manage the timestamp signing key.
• One or several Network Time Protocol (NTP) servers provide an accurate and reliable time source.