What are the Benefits of Using Strong Passwords?

As a small or medium sized business, you may think that your company is not a target for cyber criminals. However, the truth is that small and medium sized businesses are often targeted because they may not have the same level of security measures in place as larger corporations. This makes it even more important for you to ensure that your passwords are strong and secure. Investing in managed IT services and cybersecurity measures can help protect your business from cyber threats.

So, what makes a strong password?

A strong password should be at least 12 characters long and include a mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols. It’s also a good idea to avoid using easily guessable information, such as your name or birthdate, in your password. Instead, try using a passphrase made up of random words that are easy for you to remember, but difficult for others to guess.

Why use different passwords for each account?

Another important step in keeping your digital assets secure is to use a different password for each account. This may seem overwhelming, but using a password manager can make it much easier to keep track of all your passwords. A password manager can generate strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts and store them securely, so you don’t have to remember them all. Your managed IT provider may have a tool ready to implement for your business. If not, Granite offers a password management tool called Keeper.

Here are some key points on why strong passwords can help protect a business:

1. Prevents unauthorized access: Strong passwords make it difficult for unauthorized individuals to access your business’s sensitive information. This includes customer data, financial information, and other confidential data that could harm your business if it falls into the wrong hands.
2. Reduces the risk of data breaches: Data breaches can be costly for businesses, both financially and in terms of reputation. By using strong passwords, you reduce the risk of a data breach occurring, as it makes it more difficult for cyber criminals to access your systems.
3. Protects against common attacks: Cyber criminals often use common tactics such as brute force attacks or dictionary attacks to try and crack passwords. By using a strong password that is long, complex, and unique, you make it much more difficult for these types of attacks to be successful.
4. Demonstrates a commitment to security: By implementing strong password policies and educating your employees on the importance of password strength, you demonstrate to your customers and partners that your business takes cybersecurity seriously. This can help build trust and confidence in your business.

In summary, strong passwords are a crucial component of a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. By using strong passwords, you can help protect your business from cyber threats, reduce the risk of data breaches, and demonstrate your commitment to security. Granite can perform a vulnerability scan and give you a summary report of your network which includes passwords that may have been leaked on the dark web, as well as other network weaknesses. For a quick check, a reliable site for detecting compromised email addresses and passwords is Have I Been Pwned.

Sign up for a vulnerability assessment from Granite today.