Proper password hygiene can save your business thousands or even millions of dollars. 80% of hacking-related breaches result from weak or stolen passwords.
The average cost when filling a claim as a result of password breaching for even a small business will run about $50,000.
Do’s and Don’ts of Password Security
It is vital you Don’t assume that your employees know how to create secure passwords. Something you can Do to help this is to educate your employees about proper password hygiene. Create a written password policy that explains important factors about your password such as its length, its renewal, and how to store it securely. One tip when creating passwords that you can share with employees is to be sure that you Don’t use the same password for multiple accounts. It is also important that you Do change your passwords frequently. Just because the system doesn’t remind you to renew your password, doesn’t mean it is not necessary.
Have you ever considered that once a hacker breaches one of your accounts that all your accounts could too be at risk? Don’t let old online accounts compromise your password security. Anytime there’s a major password hack, Facebook, Yahoo, Google, Twitter, and other popular services leap into action to protect their users. But the best kind of security is the proactive kind, so check your social media, email, and banking accounts periodically to ensure everything is in working order. It a good idea that you Do utilize MFA ( Multi factor authentication) to increase security effectiveness. One way this can be done by is by creating personal security code questions to help verify your identity.
When storing you passwords Don’t write them down or store them unencrypted. What you should Do is use a password manager such as LastPass to keep them safe.
Some other key tips when making password is that you Don’t use short passwords or obvious character substitutions (such as @ for a or 3 for E). Instead it is wise that you Do make long, random passwords. Passwords 12 characters or longer are recommended.
Let me ask you a question, after reading this how secure do you think your passwords are? If you’re not sure – put them to the test here.
HowSecureismypassword.com is a secure site that has the ability to inform you exactly how long it will take for your passwords to be hacked. Protect yourself by learning all there is to know about creating secure passwords to prevent your business from hackers.
If you have any questions in regards to password policy reach out to CMIT Stamford at (203) 595-9091. We are happy to assist!
Continue reading more about password policy on CMIT of Stamford’s Website…
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