With cyberattacks becoming a tragically common occurrence, and billions of dollars lost each year as the result of these attacks, cybersecurity is now at the forefront of most organizations’ priorities. One of the best ways to properly handle your own cyber hygiene is to train your employees on password best practices.
This seems simple enough, right? Who wouldn’t agree with the importance of proper password management? However, businesses risk data loss as a result of poor password safety all the time.
43% of internet users—almost half!—have shared their password with someone else. Even more concerning, 30% of users have experienced a data breach due to weak passwords. These statistics are only going up, putting your business at an increased risk.
In order to protect your data and business, here are a few best practices for employees to follow for optimal password safety:
Create Long, Complicated Passwords
We get that it’s inconvenient to have a long, complicated—and maybe even nonsensical—password, but that’s the point of a password! It should be hard to guess. The more random and lengthy the password, the less likely it is to be stolen.
Here are a few tips for creating that tough-to-crack password that will stump cybercriminals:
- Use symbols, capital letters, and numbers
- Create combinations of random words
- Avoid using obvious words or personal information
- Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for an extra line of defense
Use Different Passwords for Each Account
It’s essential to have a variety of passwords. Using the same password on multiple accounts is setting yourself up for cyber disaster. Over 50% of people reuse the same password across multiple accounts, and there’s a good chance your employees are ignoring this password best practice.
It’s recommended that you use unique passwords for all important accounts, such as bank accounts, email logins, and any other account with private data.
Change Your Passwords Regularly
Having good security means regularly changing your passwords. Regularly changing to new passwords allows you to stay on top of your security and lessen the chances of someone stealing your data.
We recommend that you switch up your password at least once every 90 days to follow expert password best practices. And because it’s nearly impossible to remember all your passwords, use a password manager to store your credentials safely and securely.
NEVER Share Passwords!
This one should be common sense. Sharing passwords with someone else is just asking for trouble. You can never guarantee that your password will be handled with care, and it puts you at risk of data theft. The best way to keep your information safe is not to share your passwords with anyone—not even trusted friends and family!
Partner With ITS Group for Comprehensive Cybersecurity Services
In addition to creating secure passwords, there are many other password best practices that must be followed to ensure the safety of your data. This includes setting up firewalls, encrypting data, and installing security patches.
It can be difficult to manage all of these tasks on your own, which is why partnering with cybersecurity specialists like ITS Group is the best way to ensure your data is as secure as possible.
We offer an award-winning suite of services such as vulnerability scans, compliance management, identity and access management, security monitoring, and more.
Contact us today to find out how we can help you protect your data!