81% of breaches involve weak or reused passwords. Password management tools enable strong, unique passwords for every account. Metro Detroit businesses must implement password management to reduce breach risk.
Password Policies
Enforce strong password requirements: minimum 12 characters, complexity requirements, and regular changes. Avoid overly complex requirements that cause users to write passwords down.
Disable password reuse. Users cannot reuse previous passwords. This prevents attackers from using old passwords if they obtain password history.
Password Managers
Password managers generate and store strong passwords. Users remember one master password and the manager handles the rest. Password managers sync across devices enabling access from anywhere.
Password managers encrypt passwords using strong encryption. Even if the password manager is compromised, passwords remain encrypted. Reputable password managers use zero-knowledge architecture where even the provider cannot access passwords.
Multi-Factor Authentication
MFA adds a second factor beyond passwords. Factors include: something you know (password), something you have (phone), something you are (biometric). MFA blocks 99.9% of account compromise attacks.
Implement MFA for all accounts, especially privileged accounts. Require MFA for remote access and access to sensitive systems.
Privileged Account Management
Privileged accounts require additional protection. Use separate admin accounts for administrative tasks. Never use privileged accounts for daily work like email or web browsing.
Implement just-in-time privilege elevation. Accounts have normal permissions by default. Privileges are elevated temporarily when needed for specific tasks. This limits exposure if accounts are compromised.