A Password is like a Toothbrush

When was the last time you thought about the password policy for your business?

Password Security

This might seem like a small thing, but it’s one of your first lines of defense from outside attacks. When we audit businesses, we typically find multiple staff members whose passwords are set to never expire and have the account lockout setting disabled.

Now imagine it’s Sunday morning and you’re home enjoying a day off because your business isn’t open. Though you may not be working, a hacker on the other side of the world is using a simple program to try and decrypt your password. Since your account lockout feature is disabled, they can try what’s called a brute force attack and just keep trying passwords until they get the right one.

The time to crack a password can take seconds or minutes depending on complexity. Additionally, most passwords are FOR SALE on the Dark Web which grants instant access.  Once you’re hacked or breached, it gives criminals access to your entire network and customer information database.

The best thing you can do is set a company password policy that requires a new password every 3 months, and has more than 13 characters. While that may seem like a pain and you’ll get complaints from people in the organization, it’s much better than finding out your system was hacked and losing hundreds of thousands of dollars, your reputation and potentially your entire business.

About Teknologize

Teknologize is a SOC 2 Type II accredited Managed IT and Cybersecurity provider serving small to mid-sized businesses across Washington and Oregon. We deliver full-service Managed IT Support, Co-Managed IT Support, advanced Cybersecurity Solutions, and IT Compliance Services for regulated industries, including Healthcare, Financial Institutions, the Utilities Sector, Manufacturing, and Professional Services.

👉 Book a Discovery Call to see how Teknologize can support your business.

Our Offices

Tri-Cities, Washington – 509.396.6640 | Yakima, Washington – 509.396.6640

Bend, Oregon – 541.848.6072 | Seattle, Washington – 206.743.0981

Questions about your IT or Cybersecurity? Give us a call today!