Whether you have managed IT services, security should always be a top concern for your business. Unfortunately, data breaches seem to be a daily occurrence lately. All too often, these security hacks are related to weak passwords. Once a password has been compromised or stolen, hackers have an open door to your network and data.
Even if you have a fantastic IT network services provider, there are things you and your employees can — and should — be doing to help safeguard your information.
Here are some recommendations for keeping your password secure and protecting your IT network:
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Go Long Longer passwords are better since they are harder to crack. Rather than using one word, try a phase or a combination of letters and numbers. Don’t worry. You can still use your favorite pet’s name, just add some harder to discern numbers and letters to it for safety.
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The Blacklist Some passwords are too common and easy to guess that hackers typically use them as their first attempts and often get them on the first try. These should be added to a blacklist and banned from employee use. Another good idea is to limit the number of failed login attempts.
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Go for Two Two-factor and multi-factor authentication is rapidly growing in popularity with good reason. Rather than just relying on a password for protection. With two- or multi-factor authentication, after entering their [password, users are sent a unique code or token that must be entered to access their account. This extra layer of protection makes it difficult for hackers to gain access.
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Educate Sadly, very often, data leaks are caused by human error or oversight. People write down or share their passwords or use weak passwords without understanding the higher risk. It might not seem like a big deal if someone else logs into your computer. However, once a hacker has access to a device, they have access to your entire network.
Managed IT can help by overseeing your entire network and alerting you to areas of vulnerability. Educate employees as to the importance of password integrity and get them on board with protecting your data. Remember, your network is only as strong as your weakest password.
