Password Security & Password Managers
Passwords we use often are more likely to be easier to remember, particularly if we use the same password for lots of different accounts. However, this isn’t always very safe. Someone who gains malicious access to one account could gain access to others.
What’s the solution? A password manager.
Password managers help users store passwords, usernames and other login information that they use to access various services and accounts. The information is stored in a ‘vault’ which is only accessible with a master password. This makes it easy to keep everything in one place, without compromising on security by making every password uniform.
What Are The Benefits Of Using A Password Manager?
- Firstly, you don’t need to remember them. As mentioned above, having to remember your passwords for most of us means either forgetting them or giving everything the same password. A password manager makes it easy to have stronger passwords, mainly because you don’t have to rely on your memory. Penetration testing has found that abstract passwords also deter cybersecurity issues and cybercriminals. This could form part of your BC/DR plan and prevent a data breach.
- You’ll save the time that you usually spend sitting at your desk trying to remember which password you used for which account or software. With password management software, everything is in one place. It will save untold wasted hours for you and your team. They are also great for shared accounts or for groups where instant access to multiple accounts needs to be granted for a particular person.
- Password management programs can be synced seamlessly between browsers, devices and computers, meaning that you only need to remember one password for the rest of your days.
- Password managers aren’t just great for passwords and logins; they can also be useful for any other kind of information that you’d rather keep under lock and key. These include car information, passport information and credit card info.
What Is The Best Password Manager?
The best password manager depends on the need of your organisation, with different software catering for specific requirements. Keep in mind whether various staff need access, if password managers are going to be part of your company’s security measures and if password managers will be for remote working.
There are many great free and paid options to choose from. These include:
- Dashlane
- 1password
- Lastpass (which has a fantastic free version)
- KeeperSecurity (great for high security)
- RoboForm
- Logmeonce
Password security is vital for protecting data and is an integral part of our penetration testing
