Whether it is working remotely or onsite, the necessity of using digital tools and applications among team members in an organisation is undeniable. Having said this, a team member may have more than one tool or application used by the organisation which means multiple usernames and passwords to remember and memorise. Furthermore, not only is it incumbent upon the team member to memorise usernames and passwords, but also, the overall data privacy and security is also a huge consideration in ensuring a seamless and hassle free access of all tools and applications, making sure that one is contributing to the team. The two-fold purpose of password management embedded in the business processes is to ensure security and for convenience on the part of the user. This article will talk about the advantages of having a robust password management tool in running your organisation and business.
- It encourages users to come up with strong passwords.
It is a general rule that a password isn’t considered secure unless it is at least 12 characters long and contains a random combination of numbers, symbols, uppercase letters and lowercase letters. Few people have the patience or skill to create unique passwords of that complexity for each account, particularly if they have to memorise them. Password managers have algorithms that automatically generate secure passwords and store them securely so users don’t have to remember.
- It allows you added security against Browser-based password management.
Most browsers today have a built-in basic function that offers to remember passwords. The problem is that browser-based solutions typically don’t have a strong focus on security. Without a password management policy, many users will default to using whatever the browser offers, leaving their credentials effectively out in the open.
- Password managers protect against phishing attacks.
Phishing attacks are one of the most effective ways cyber criminals steal login credentials. Phishing emails that appear to come from legitimate services, but that actually direct recipients to bogus login screens that are set up solely to capture their passwords. Most people are prone to phishing attacks, but password managers aren’t. If the domain name doesn’t match the record within the password manager, it won’t serve up a password.
- Password managers can sync to the cloud.
People need to login to services from a wide range of devices, including desktop computers, phones, tablets and even public computers. There is no reliable, convenient or secure way to carry around those credentials other than by using password manager. Quality products provide apps for all major mobile platforms as well as desktop and website access.
- They support multi-factor authentication.
Two-factor authentication (2FA) requires users to supplement passwords with a second form of identity, such as the answer to a challenge question or a PIN code sent to their phone. Leading password managers provide various two-factor authentication methods, which will add an extra layer of protection for everything stored in your password manager.
- You can monitor compliance and spot problems.
The best password policies in the world are of no use if people ignore them. Enterprise password management systems give IT departments visibility into their employee’s’ password practices so administrators can identify and resolve non-compliant behaviour. A single compromised password can lead to disaster. With audit and reporting controls, that need never happen.