Here are five tips to help you ensure no unauthorised users can gain access to your systems, and your data is never compromised by your passphrases getting into the wrong hands.
Be honest – does your business have a clear password policy?
Or are you relying on your staff to manage their own password security requirements?
If you’re guilty of the latter, you could be compromising your company’s cybersecurity on a day-to-day basis.
Here are five tips to help you ensure no unauthorised users can gain access to your systems, and your data is never compromised by your passphrases getting into the wrong hands.
- Create different passwords for different accounts
It should be a given – but so many of us are still using the same combination to access multiple platforms online!
In fact, research has found that 51% of people use the same passwords for both their work and personal accounts, which presents all kinds of data security problems for organisations.
Ditch the passcodes you’ve been using for the last 20 years and make a habit of coming up with a new combination for every login.
- Take steps to strengthen your passwords
Passwords that are easy to remember are, unfortunately, easier to hack.
To reduce risk, make sure all your passwords contain at least one capital letter, one symbol, and/or one number. Avoid guessable phrases like children’s names, and never use important birthdays or anniversaries. Bear in mind, too, that every password should be at least eight characters long.
- Use a password manager
With so many passwords to keep track of, it can be tempting to list them all in a spreadsheet, or simply rely on the autosave function in your computer’s browser. According to DataPro, more than a quarter of us are still writing our passwords down on paper or post-it notes – which is shocking, as anyone could get hold of them!
We suggest using purpose-built password manager apps from trusted sources. There are lots of free and freemium apps available, but for maximum security, we advise paying a little extra for a password keeper from a reputable brand that has plenty of good reviews. Feel free to contact us if you’d like more information on the password managers we often recommend to our clients.
- Delegate instead of sharing
If several people within your business need access to the same account or device, it can be tricky to manage your resources without compromising the safety of your data and your systems. You can, of course, use a password keeper app to share passwords between trusted members of staff – but where possible, we would suggest finding a way to delegate privileges instead of giving out the same passphrases to groups of people. Again, feel free to get in touch with our team for more information on how to manage your permissions using delegation.
- Consider two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication – sometimes shortened to 2FA – uses an extra layer of protection to keep your online accounts secure.
Instead of simply entering a username and password to access a device, system, or document, 2FA requires you to prove your identity in two different ways. Depending on the app or system you’re using, you may be asked to enter a personal identification number, a code that’s been sent to your smartphone or email address, or even biometric data, such as a fingerprint or a photo of your face.
2FA is an incredibly useful tool that, in our opinion, should be embraced by businesses of all sizes as a means of ensuring unauthorised third parties can’t get anywhere near their data. If you need help choosing a two-factor authentication app, or setting up 2FA processes for your staff, please let us know.
Here are five tips to help you ensure no unauthorised users can gain access to your systems, and your data is never compromised by your passphrases getting into the wrong hands.
