Employee passwords are the first line of defense in securing the organization from inappropriate or malicious access to data and services.

The first Thursday in May of each year has been officially declared  World Password Day —- a day to promote good security hygiene and password habits.

Review World Password Day’s quick four-step approach to better passwords:

1. Create strong passwords
Strong passwords, have at least eight characters, with a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letter, numbers, and symbols. They also avoid the use of personal information, such as birthdays or middle names.

2. Use a different password for each account
Using a different password for each online account is important because, if you share passwords across accounts, one compromised password can be used to log into another account — especially important regarding online banking and financial accounts.

3. Get a password manager
Password managers, like LastPass or 1Password, can help you store multiple passwords, often in an encrypted manner, for easy access. Typically, they will require one master password with additional layer of authentication to access the stored passwords.

4. Turn on multi-factor authentication
Multi-factor authentication adds an additional layer of security on top of your standard password. For example, an app may require you answer a security question, input a unique code, or use a fingerprint scanner on top of using your password. Check the security settings of your favorite apps and passwords to see if multi-factor authentication is available.

Business security isn’t just about passwords and password strength. Please contact getFIT to have a discussion about security controls to minimize cyber threats to your small company.