Get ready to witness a game-changing moment in the world of cybersecurity and passwords!
An impressive coalition of over 90 nonprofit organizations, including Consumer Reports and the Better Business Bureau, just dropped a brand-new directive protecting your accounts and devices called “The Common Guidance on Passwords.” This announcement sets the stage for the grand inauguration of “World More Than a Password Day,” which was on November 10, 2023. This global movement emphasizes the importance of stronger online authentication and provides essential guidance for businesses and individuals.
Did you know that a staggering 80 percent of data breaches are attributed to the vulnerability of passwords? It’s time to bid farewell to the era of flimsy and repeated keywords and welcome a new age of robust authentication methods that leave cyber threats in the dust. This is exactly what the Common Guidance on Passwords sets out to do with five simple steps.
“Embracing multi-factor authentication is a decisive step in safeguarding our assets. It’s an investment in a triad of security: enhancing processes, empowering people, and leveraging technology to fortify our organization’s future.”
– Tom Brennan, Co-Chair of Nonprofit Cyber Steering Committee
Here is a brief overview of this new guidance crafted by over 90 cybersecurity non-profits that certainly will resonate with both IT and business professionals alike!
In short, say goodbye to Passwords! Say hello to a world with magic passkeys. They’re not just convenient; they’re the protection you need.
Guardian of Your Inbox: Transform your email into a digital fortress with robust passwords and the attentive watch of multi-factor authentication (MFA).
Double Down on Security: Beef up your defenses with hardware keys, authenticator apps, or SMS PINs – because a little extra prevents phishing, malware, and other cyberattacks.
Sidekick Password Manager: Meet your trusty sidekick – the password manager. Using a password manager means using strong, randomly generated passwords that are much harder to guess. It crafts and stores flawless passwords for all your digital undertakings.
Password Creation Mastery: Level up your game with pro techniques –passphrases or the cool “Three Random Words” method. Combining three random words creates a strong password that is often long enough and strong enough. Weak passwords can be cracked in seconds. The longer and more unusual your password is, the harder it is for cybercriminals to crack it.
Emergency Response: When the digital storm hits, change those passwords immediately! No repeats are allowed. Explore services like https://haveibeenpwned.com/ to keep your online world secure.
Remember, while two-factor and multi-factor authentication are extremely critical in the fight against cybercrime, the best strategy is multi-layered and should include employee training, tools, and processes to defend and protect your networks and data from bad actors.
While with a strategic layered approach, these services and solutions won’t achieve complete and total protection, they will allow your organization to substantially minimize risks and reinforce its cyber defenses.
At 11:11 Systems we are committed to helping organizations of all sizes better protect their sensitive data and infrastructure with an extensive portfolio of cloud, connectivity, and security solutions. These services provide the necessary expertise to proactively manage and address cyber threats safeguarding your most valuable digital assets.