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World password day

Word Password day

Today is World Password Day - Still working from home? - Then read on

 

When was the last time you changed your passwords? Passwords are the digital ticket to your data and without security, it's easy for cybercriminals to gain access.

For companies with remote workers, it's important to focus on IT security and the protection of company data. A hacker attack can have a huge impact - in some cases it can be crucial to a company's existence. Imagine all personal data on employees, customers and stakeholders being leaked, important knowledge such as customer databases, trade secrets or projects being stolen or all content on digital platforms suddenly gone.

One of the first steps towards better IT security is to improve the security of your user accounts. So a good way to improve security is to make sure that your private accounts are secured as well as possible and that employees comply with the company's security policy for privileged and regular user accounts.

 

By focusing on IT security at home and at work, you can improve your defenses against cyberattacks

 

A study by Sapio shows that 86% of all IT departments in Danish companies experienced an increased number of cyberattacks after the country's first lockdown last year. COVID-19 has brought with it a new vulnerability to cybercriminals. Due to increased homeworking, cybersecurity for both businesses and individuals has been pushed to the limit. Lack of VPNs, insecure home workspaces and unsecured devices all contribute to cybersecurity challenges for both businesses and individuals.

 

Multifactor authentication

 

Basically, all passwords can be broken if you have sufficient computing power. Therefore, it is important to always use Multi Factor Authentication where possible.

Multi Factor Authentication works by requiring two or more of the following authentication methods:

  • Something you know, typically a password
  • Something you have, such as a secured device that cannot be easily copied (a phone or hardware key)
  • Something you are - biometrics like a fingerprint or face scan.

 

Create a strong password - and live with not remembering it

 

Even though we are often reminded to change our passwords, we tend to keep using our old and recognizable ones. This makes it easy for cybercriminals to hack our accounts. If a hacker gains access to one account, they will likely gain access to all of them.

One of the main reasons why most people don't change their passwords is that they're afraid of forgetting them. And there's a good reason for that; you can't remember unique passwords - that's the whole point of passwords. They should be so hard to remember that not even hackers can figure them out. If you have access to many systems, it's a good idea to use a program to keep track of your personal passwords. For personal/private accounts, programs like Keepass, Enpass or Lastpass are recommended.

For businesses, products from CyberarkThycotic/Delinea, Beyondtrust systems that keep track of your privileged accounts.

You can do this yourself to increase the security of your user accounts:

  • Enable multi-factor authentication where possible!
  • Use a password manager for your passwords
  • Don't write passwords down on paper
  • Have different passwords for all your systems, you don't know how password
  • Don't have the same password on personal and business accounts
  • Never enter your password on sites you don't know
  • Change your passwords to a long and complex password, preferably with letters, numbers and characters
  • Check if your account password has been leaked via https://haveibeenpwned.com/

If you're unsure about your company's IT security, let us walk you through it

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