Password Policy Best Practices 2024

Your password is your first line of defense against cyber criminals, despite this many users create their passwords in such a way offers little to no protection against external threats. This is why every organization must design and implement stringent password policies to ensure every user takes the same care in securing their businesses private data. When every user works together to contribute to a culture of security, it becomes that much easier to protect your business. 

What is a Password Policy?

Considering all it takes is one weak password to breach an organization, password polices are utilized as a collection of rules to determine how users must create and use their passwords. These polices make sure that every employee is consistent on how they are securing their applications and accounts. These rules include things like password length, complexity, when they will need to be changed, etc. The more stringent a policy is, the greater protection it offers. 

81% of Data Breaches Involve Stolen or Weak Passwords (Verizon)

How Should You Craft Your Password Policy?

There are several elements your organization should consider when developing a strong password policy for your users. 

• Recycled Passwords: Users should not be allowed to reuse passwords across multiple devices, applications, or accounts. One of the easiest ways that cyber criminals can gain access to a user's accounts is through stealing just one password. In many cases, this password can be applied to several different applications to gain instant access. Do not follow as many others, the average person reuses each password as many as 14 times.
• Password Length: There should be a minimum required length for every password a user creates. The CIS suggests that a password have a minimum length of 14 characters. A password that is too short can be easily cracked by a simple brute force attack. 
• Complexity: It isn't enough to have just a long password. Users should create passwords that are complex, with a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters. This adds greater variety and makes it more difficult for cyber criminals to guess. Users should also refrain from using personal information or common dictionary words. Avoid sequential character passwords like "1234abcd".
• Multi-Factor Authentication: While passwords are your first line of defense, a secondary form of authentication should be required to confirm a user's identity. This could come in the form of a one-time code, push notification, or phone call. MFA adds an extra layer of protection on top of your username and password. 
• Password Sharing: Sharing passwords with other users should be prohibited to avoid login credentials being leaked or stolen. Sharing, even with trusted coworkers, can put your business at greater risk. 
• Fail Login Attempts: There should be a limit on failed password attempts before a user is locked out temporarily to avoid brute force attacks. Cyber criminals will often try thousands of different combinations unless stopped by an effective lockout policy. 

Passwords are a Major Security Risk

CorpInfoTech utilizes security applications such as Duo Mobile and LastPass to create a secure password policy for organizations, alongside security awareness training to educate users on the risks of cyber threats. Our solutions are comprehensive and can be implemented across the entire organization to ensure total security and compliance.

These are just a few of the most important policies an organization should have in place regarding their user's login credentials. As a managed service provider (MSP), CorpInfoTech helps organizations better protect their business and implement robust security controls and polices that stop bad actors.

To learn more about how CorpInfoTech can help your organization, contact us today!

CorpInfoTech (Corporate Information Technologies) provides small to mid-market organizations with expert I.T. services, including security assessment, cybersecurity penetration tests, managed services (MSP),  firewall management, and vulnerability management. CorpInfoTech can help organizations, quantify, create, refine, and mitigate the risks presented by business threatening disasters in whatever form they may be disguised.