How secure is my password you may be thinking – you are in the right place. Let’s dive deeper into the importance of passwords and why they must be secure to keep your business safe.
Passwords have been used since 1961, and we rely on them almost every day. But what is the purpose of a password? To enable only you to access a particular piece of information – whether that’s an account, spreadsheet, file, etc.
Passwords provide the first line of defence against unauthorised access to that information. Unfortunately, the rise of identity theft and data breaches have risen over the last few years, so it’s more important now than ever to ensure your password is secure and have additional cyber security protecting your business.
What happens if you don’t have a secure password?
If your password is weak and not secure, a hacker can easily gain access to your account.
What does this mean for your business? The dreaded data breach. This is a serious security violation in which sensitive, protected or confidential data is copied, transmitted, viewed, stolen, or used by a cybercriminal.
A data breach can lead the cybercriminal to carry out cyber-attacks such as Phishing or Ransomware attacks.
- Phishing is a dragged-out attack that you may not even be aware of until it’s too late. It’s when a cybercriminal pretends to be you and aims to steal data such as login credentials, finance and confidential information from clients and employees.
- Ransomware is when malicious software is unleashed into your business network and blocks out all individuals, so you can’t access any data and will have to pay a sum of money to get it back. Often, businesses pay the ransom and still don’t get their data back.
Weak passwords can leave your business vulnerable to many other types of malware. Take a look here to read our guide on the 9 most terrifying types of malware.
With this in mind, a data breach can cost your business clients and a lot of money. Therefore, it highlights the utmost importance of how having a secure password keeps your business data safe.
What does a “secure password” contain?
For your password to be secure and not at risk of being discovered by a cybercriminal, it must contain the following:
- 16-character password with numbers
- Uppercase letters
- Lowercase letters
- Symbols
- Different for each account
The last point is particularly important and may resonate with you as a lot of people use the same password for multiple accounts, don’t worry; we have a solution.
Password Manager
A Password Manager enables businesses to take control of their passwords. Every employee is provided with a secure, cloud-based digital vault that stores passwords and other critical information. The vaults have a master password and two-factor authentication. Take a look at why your business should have a password manager by reading our previous blog: what is a password manager, and why should you use it to keep your business safe?
We hope this blog gave you a deeper understanding of whether your password is secure and what you need to do in future to improve passwords across your business.
If you need any assistance or support, please get in touch with our cybersecurity experts, who can advise you. Just call us on 01273 806211 or email [email protected]
