Are your cybersecurity defenses riddled with holes? They could be dragging you down without you even knowing it. The secret to bolstering your defensive capabilities may center on an unexpected practice: password management.
Good password practices go way beyond avoiding dumb mistakes, such as keeping your login credentials on a sticky note or leaving the office router set to the default password. Here are some advanced strategies that might dramatically change the way you assess and relate to hazards.
The Realities of Password-related Cybersecurity Risks
Netflix dramas and movies would have us believe that the greatest threat comes from some shadowy hacking organization filled with edgy people who dress in fashionable clothing and steal data for the sheer thrill of it. While such malcontents undoubtedly exist and have proven willing to sell hacking tools and data to the highest bidders on the dark web, they're far from the only sources of cybersecurity disasters.
Passwords Are Known Vulnerabilities
According to Verizon's 2016 Data Breach Investigations Report, a massive 63 percent of confirmed breach incidents were related to bad passwords that were either too weak, left to defaults or otherwise stolen. The same report revealed that almost one-third of phishing emails got opened by their recipients. In short, modern organizations are in obvious danger of password-related incidents.
Your Bad Passwords Are Backstabbing You
Many users practice poor password management. For instance, one analysis of millions of stolen passwords revealed some troubling statistics. Out of the top ten most popular passwords, seven included simple numerical sequences, like "123456," which made up 17 percent of passwords.
The Potential Impacts of Superior Management Strategies
Humans are creatures of habit. Instead of endlessly fighting against the tides, companies and IT managers should recognize these tendencies and use them for good.
The 2017 Ponemon Cost of Data Breach Study found that although the global average loss associated with breaches dropped 10 percent from prior years, it was still a cool $3.62 million. At the same time, the average size of data breaches increased to reach 24,000 compromised records per incident.
By combating one of the primary causes of breaches, password management systems offer companies the chance to save quite a bit of money and cultivate positive public opinion. Tools like EyeOnPass, for example, offer perks like:
- NIST SP 800-63-3 checking of new passwords against dictionary words, passwords lost in prior breaches, and weak phrases that can be guessed easily.
- Multi-language code APIs designed for seamless integration into existing IT software architectures.
- Session monitoring that stops people from using stolen credentials to gain access to your site.
Implementing Techniques That Work
It's up to you to choose an effective password management methodology that shores up your cybersecurity fortifications. Whether you're trying to cultivate user trust or move beyond practices that have proven insufficient in the past, a few things are certain. Easy integration, simplicity and built-in mechanisms that reduce the risks of human error are vital components of any password-oriented cybersecurity strategy.