Passwords Are on the Way Out. What’s Next?

Passwords are a critical security component of any online account. In many cases, they’re the fine line of defense against the horde of threats that exist on the Internet. The problem that many users have with passwords, however, is that good passwords are difficult to remember, and on their own, aren’t necessarily the most secure option. So, how can you make passwords both easier to use and more secure?

With these two technologies, your organization can maximize its security and ensure that hackers have a difficult time brute-forcing their way into your network infrastructure.

Two-Factor Authentication
What two-factor authentication entails is using secondary credentials to protect your network or online accounts. This could be in the form of an SMS message, a phone call, or an email, which has a constantly-shifting credential that’s required to log into your online accounts. Anyone who doesn’t have these credentials cannot access your account.

The main idea with two-factor authentication is to make it as difficult as possible for hackers to break into your accounts. By implementing physical devices like your smartphone, you make it virtually impossible to log in without also having physical access to your smartphone. While many websites and online accounts now let you take advantage of two-factor authentication, businesses can enforce it as well to add an extra layer of protection to sensitive information.

Password Managers
Simple passwords like your dog’s name or the make of your car followed by your date of birth are actually pretty easy for hackers to brute force. More secure, complex passwords are usually very long, having several upper and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols. Naturally, passwords like these are difficult to crack for hackers, but equally has hard for users to remember. Furthermore, you should never use the same password for more than one account, which means that you’ll have even more trouble than usual remembering all of these passwords. The best way to keep track of passwords is with a password manager solution, a great tool that makes it easy to store and utilize complex passwords.

With an enterprise-level password manager, you can equip your business with complex passwords that are necessary to protect your critical assets from potential danger. Password managers store your credentials in a secure database, and then retrieves them individually when it comes time to use them. This keeps your credentials both secure and easily accessible for when you need them. It’s the easiest way to reap the benefits of complex passwords without having to remember multiple credentials for each account you have. There are many solutions on the market, so don’t hesitate to reach out to Macro Systems to determine what type of password management tool would fit your business.

If your business is having trouble with passwords, give Macro Systems a call at (703) 359-9211. We can equip your business with the solutions necessary to optimize network security and ensure minimal data risk.