Add configuration options for timeout

**Description**
Currently data lacks proper serialization support.

**Proposed solution**
Add configurable serialization with sensible defaults.

**Priority**: Low/Medium

The issue names no files, tests, or entry points. First reconcile the timeout title with the description about serialization, then locate the relevant configuration and serialization code; the work is done when the intended option is configurable with sensible defaults and its behavior is covered by appropriate checks.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.