Pointing to a computer screen. Image by Tim Sandle.
In the age of technology, we increasingly rely on our devices to store and analyze sensitive data. Cyber threats continue to be a problem for businesses of all sizes, and basic passwords are still one of the most common ways for cybercriminals to hack into a device or application.
Research shows that 23 million account holders use password 123456. This year, world password day is observed on May 5and2022 and serves as a reminder to have a secure and unique password as a way to ensure information security.
Emphasizing the importance of password management for Digital diary ID industry expert Keith Neilson, Technical Evangelist at CloudSphere.
Neilson explains why password management should be an essential practice for businesses and consumers: “When it comes to protecting company data and improving overall security, passwords play a essential role. World Password Day reminds businesses to use stronger passwords for protection.
The dangers for businesses are: “Allowing databases to be accessed without even basic password protection is an all-too-common source of data leaks, but it’s easily preventable with solutions that provide safety guardrails and an automated correction of these misconfigurations.
Although good passwords are important, there are other mechanisms that can protect personal data. These measures are clarified by Neilson: “However, instead of focusing primarily on password best practices, we need to focus on secure access and next-generation authentication.”
As for what it entails: “It entails the development of new and improved alternatives to password management, which will require the implementation of robust cyber asset management systems. Managing cyber assets that enable authentication will become a higher priority when difficult authentication methods such as behavioral biometrics and liveness detection become more prevalent, as they require a much more sophisticated collection of cyber assets and rules.
A term to know on World Password Day is “#LayerUp”. This refers to adding strong authentication to your important passwords to prevent identity theft and other cyber crimes.
Returning to the importance of effective password management, Neilson says: “Ultimately, World Password Day is a good opportunity to observe the importance of strong passwords and a password protection as part of overall security.” Summarizing his best practice recommendations, Neilson notes: “While new means will undoubtedly replace the traditional password, they will continue to be used as a fallback and ‘master key.’ Organizations will increasingly adopt methods more advanced authentication and cyber asset management capabilities that support this evolution.
