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Shifting to online networks has helped businesses work remotely and expand their trade horizons. Similarly, individuals enjoy the ease of connection and communication through online platforms. However, the chances of being a victim of a cyber attack are also very high if the security protocol is weak or the network passwords are not managed well.
According to recent reports companies have lost more than hundreds of thousands of dollars in the United States alone. Having a strong and well-managed network password can effectively improve the level of security and help avoid such losses.
What is Password Management?
Password management refers to selecting, retaining and assessing a password that the user opts for. A certain set of guidelines must be specified and followed to ensure perfect password management. The main purpose of a password is to maintain a security protocol that a hacker cannot breach.
There are multiple types of password managers available such as browser-based, desktop-based, portable and cloud-based password managers. If the company works with Edge computing or IoT technologies, mere passwords are not enough. The advantages of implementing cloud security can be demonstrated through multiple SASE use cases.
What is SASE?
SASE refers to the Secure Access Service Edge pronounced as “sassy”. Gartner used this term first in 2019, and soon after that, it became more of a security standard against which companies evaluate their security protocols. SASE offers a set of security measures, including;
- Data loss Prevention
- Virtual Private Network
- Secure Gateway for Web
- Zero Trust Access Policy
- Firewall as a Service
- Deep packet inspection
- Cloud Access Security Broker
Secure Access Service Edge combines multiple security functions in a single cloud service.
What are SASE use cases?
The most popular use cases of SASE are:
- Cloud Acceleration and Control
- Trouble-free Management
- Easy Remote Working
- Global Connectivity
- Migration from MPLS to SD-WAN
- Mobile and Cloud Data Security
How to Manage a Network Password in 2022
Some basic practices for network password management include;
- Immediately changing the default password
- Strictly monitoring the shared account passwords
- Using separate passwords for each administrative account
- Using encrypted tunnels to transmit passwords
- Notifying via email regarding any change in the passwords
A strong network password can be maintained with ease by following the following guidelines:
- Do not share the password
Passwords are the key to the assets and confidential information of an organization. In no circumstance should a password be shared with anyone There can be some exceptions where it is required that multiple users have access to the core resource Other than this exception, when a password is shared with anyone, it can be the silent trigger for a potential safety breach. - Disable auto-login
The auto-login feature comes built-in with many networking platforms. It is a good practice not to allow this feature, as the basic purpose of keeping a password-protected system is to ensure only authorized personnel can access it. If the auto login is enabled, this would mean that anyone who is somehow able to access your system physically can enter the network and get his way. - Use a passphrase instead of a password
It only takes a couple of minutes for a hacker to retrieve short one-word passwords for a network. It is a good practice to use a passphrase as a password. A passphrase is a collection of words or “a phrase” that is used as a password. This way, the number of characters is too much to interpret by a potential cyber attacker easily. - Separate passwords for all accounts.
As convenient as it may sound, using the same password for every account is never a good practice. When the same password is used for all accounts, the vulnerability of being hit by a greater loss increases. If an attacker gets his hands on any of your passwords, you are prone to losing everything inside each account associated with that password. - Reset the password.
Updating and resetting passwords regularly is the best practice for maintaining a network password effectively. If passwords are not changed or updated as a routine, the account owner needs to be alert and change it even if a whim of information leakage is noticed. A compromised password cannot be allowed to go on and must be changed instantly. - Keep the password in your mind.
It must be a practice to try and remember your network passwords and avoid writing or storing them anywhere else. If deemed necessary, make sure to store the password in a safe location and delete and/or destroy it once the purpose is achieved. Password managers are not considered to be safe for storing passwords for accounts that contain confidential information. - Don’t reuse a password.
While performing a password update, it must be made sure that the previous password is not being reused. In a scenario where the previous password was somehow exposed to threats, if you reuse the existing password, the purpose of updating the password will not be achieved. - Multi-Factor Authentication
The second layer of protection must back up a password. In the advent of a password leak, the additional authentication requirements can stop the breach just as quickly as it started.
Final thoughts
A secure network guarantees productivity and maximum returns on investments. Although the security of a network does not solely rely on passwords, it can be significantly improved by using a strong network password. Regular management is required to maintain a network password effectively.
