With cybercrime at an all-time high, managers need to reinforce best cybersecurity practices within their organization. The 2020 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report shows that 67% of the leading causes of data breaches are credential theft (stolen passwords), social attacks (phishing and business email compromise), and general carelessness. To keep your company safe, you must ensure that all your staff members are aware of such threats and are taking a proactive approach to security.
The figures above directly indicate that most data breaches are caused by employee error. One major point of vulnerability is the misuse and mismanagement of passwords, so doubling down on staff training is an absolute must. In this guide we’ll discuss password best practices that your team, clients, and partners should adopt.
7 Useful Tips for Stronger Password Security
Strong passwords are your first line of defense against hackers. Scroll down below for some valuable password tips.
1. Prioritize complexity
While it’s good to have easy-to-remember passwords, remind your staff that they should prioritize complexity. After all, a strong password is one that is hard to guess. If your passcode is any of these that belongs to the top 20 most common passwords, then it’s about time to change it up:
- 123456
- qwerty
- 111111
- qwerty123
- 1q2w3e
It would be best to use a long and nonsense phrase. The more random it is, the better. Use a mix of special characters, upper and lowercase letters, and numbers. You could also swap characters with numbers or symbols such as MyD0Gfl!e$ (my dog flies) to make it even more complex! On another note, make it a point to avoid using personal information like your birthdays, pet’s name, or city of birth.
2. Utilize multi-factor authentication
While even the best passwords have limits, they serve as your first line of defense. A second layer of protection can be added by incorporating multi-factor authentication (MFA).
MFA can be in the form of biometrics, physical tokens, or a mobile phone app that verifies the identity of the person trying to log in.
3. Never reuse passwords
When you recycle old passwords, you’re leaving the gate open for lurking cybercriminals. They can access your data through credential stuffing, a technique in which hackers use stolen username and password pairs to log in to different websites until they compromise those accounts. It’s best to use unique passwords for every account you have.
4. Use a password manager
Keeping track of different passwords can be confusing and a hassle. Password vaults and password management tools can organize and store your passwords securely. They can also auto-generate strong passwords for you if you’re struggling to create one. By using these tools, you can keep all your passwords in one place and avoid forgetting them.
5. Avoid password sharing
As much as possible, keep your password a secret and don’t share it with anyone else, as your accounts hold private and important data. If multiple users need access to an account or system, strive for a setup that utilizes multiple logins rather than sharing the credentials. Also, do not write your password on a sticky note and plaster it on your computer or work area for everyone to see.
6. Use single sign-on to prevent credential theft
Single sign-on (SSO) is an authentication process in which your employees will only need a single set of credentials to access multiple platforms. With SSO, both your customers and staff will no longer need to log in numerous times for different accounts. This type of authentication is beneficial as instances of passwords being reused, stolen, or lost are less likely.
7. Utilize passwordless solutions such as Q5id
Passwords have security risks and usability issues, so why not try going passwordless? This type of authentication doesn’t require passwords but relies on other processes such as facial recognition, fingerprint scan, and device identifier.
Q5id offers proven identity solutions to provide your organization with stronger security, create better user experiences, and promote significant workforce productivity. After enrolling in the Q5id app, users can easily authenticate transactions in seconds through a quick face and palm scan.
Adopt The Best Cybersecurity Practices for Your Company
A strong password is essential in protecting your organization and information. While short and simple passcodes are easy to remember, they can pose serious security risks. Fortunately, encouraging all members of your organization to make use of the tips above will prevent hackers from compromising your accounts.
Strengthen your organization’s security with effective authentication solutions. Contact Q5id today to learn how you can secure your network against cybercriminals.
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