IT

Easy steps to protect passwordsSymantec CloudSOC found that enterprises on average use up to 1,000 cloud apps but most CIOs think their organisations only use around 40.

The average number of apps adopted by enterprises is, in fact, 928.That’s a lot of passwords.

Secure access

Growth of the mobile workforce has changed how organisations must secure access to applications and data. Employees are working from many different locations and devices and need to be able to connect to their organisations’ apps and data.

Therefore, IT and cybersecurity professionals must secure access from these unknown networks to minimise the threat.

We need to deploy ever more complex defence and monitoring solutions in order to minimise risk. But basic housekeeping in the form of passwords can’t be overlooked.

Here are some easy steps to help you protect employees’ passwords:

  • Provide single sign-on capabilities for all cloud applications
  • Invest in an Identity and Access Management solution
  • Enforce strict password management policies
  • Use 2 factor authentication (2FA)
  • Enable users to manage their own passwords
  • Ensure your vulnerability and patch management operation is effective

Password facts

The average business user has 191 passwords according to Security Magazine. That’s a lot of passwords to remember. Here are some more interesting facts:

  1.  The most common password in 2018 and 2017 was 123456. Guess what the second was… You’re right -  password!
  2.  81% of confirmed data breaches are due to passwords
  3. Password reset requests make up 10% – 30% of all IT helpdesk calls
  4. More than 90% of user-generated passwords will be vulnerable to hacking
  5. The average 250-employee company has 47,750 passwords in use

By John Casey of Trilogy Technologies.