Cybersecurity has become increasingly important — and increasingly complicated — as businesses digitize their operations. With more data vulnerable to online threats, strict password policies are more vital than ever. Here are five essential password practices business owners should implement to protect their online information.
Use Unique, Strong Passwords
This practice is straightforward enough, but many people still use basic passwords like “123456” and “password” because they’re easy to remember. Of course, they’re also the first guesses for anyone trying to hack into the account. Companies cannot afford to be lazy with their passwords.
Strict Password Creation Is Key
It’s crucial to set strict password creation standards for all accounts, no matter how trivial. Many online platforms require user passwords to check off these boxes:
- At least 16 characters
- At least one number
- At least one special character
- No repeating passwords
- Nothing similar to the username or the email account
These policies make it more challenging for hackers to access the account’s private information. Some businesses and government organizations take it further and require multi-word passphrases instead of passwords.
Enable Multi-Factor Authentication
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) requires users to pass another obstacle after entering their accounts’ passwords. The extra step can be simple — like a pin, phone number, or recovery email — but it’s usually a specific question about the account owner.
Examples Of MFA Questions
Here are a few examples of common MFA questions:
- Who is your favorite actor or musician?
- What was your kindergarten teacher’s name?
- What was your first stuffed animal?
Whatever the question might be, it must have a singular, unique response. For example, if the kindergarten teacher’s name was Mrs. Johnson, someone could easily guess the answer. A name like Mr. O’Shaughnessy makes for a great extra authentication answer because hackers are less likely to guess it.
Change the Passwords Often
It’s also a smart idea for businesses to change their passwords at least every three months.
This practice is essential for industries with high turnover rates — disgruntled former employees are one of the most likely culprits of cyberattacks. Whenever an employee leaves, change the passwords and other authentication steps to eliminate the threat.
Activate Login Alerts
As more organizations join the bring-your-own-device culture, they become increasingly vulnerable to external threats. The more devices involved, the more entry points a cybercriminal has. Companies should activate alert notifications to know when unknown devices log in to their accounts.
Getting login alerts enables companies to identify potential security breaches quickly. The warnings specify where and when someone tried to access the account. This extra security layer makes cybercriminals less likely to infiltrate the business’s accounts from their own devices.
Consider Using Password Protection Software
Companies should strongly consider using password protection software as they expand. Most software includes end-to-end encryption and other security measures that ensure everyone can access the passwords they need without fear of compromise.
The best password managers have built-in multi-factor authentication and release frequent security updates to keep up with the fast-changing digital world. These updates improve the software’s ease of use and add new security measures to combat emerging threats.
Think Like a Cybercriminal
To effectively implement cybersecurity measures, businesses need to think like cybercriminals. Companies with weak, stagnant passwords, no activated alerts, and no protective software are easy targets for hackers.
Those that update their complex passwords often have real-time alerts and use advanced security software will be much safer and primed for success in online business.
