How to Make Your Passwords More Secure and Easier to Use

Passwords are a critical security component of your online accounts, providing a fine line of defense against the horde of threats on the Internet. The problem that many users have with passwords, however, is that good passwords are difficult to remember. Plus, on their own, passwords 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
Two-factor authentication uses 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 take advantage of two-factor authentication, businesses can use 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 as 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 your passwords. The best way to keep track of passwords is with a password manager solution, a 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 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 SMART Services to determine what type of password management tool would best fit your business.

Let Smart Services position your agency for tomorrow’s technological challenges. For 25 years, Smart Services has helped agencies across the U.S. face a changing environment by providing innovative technology solutions that allow agencies to focus on growing their business. MyAgency Cloud, our complete cloud solution, covers all your technology needs in the cloud or at your agency. In today’s competitive environment, it’s time to make your agency technology a strategic asset, instead of a liability. Let us show you how. To learn more, please call our expert agency technology advisor at 586-258-0650.