Give Your Users Powerful Passwords

We use passwords daily, to access emails, social networks, forums or even to log into our PCs.

One of the biggest challenges facing most organizations today is network and data security.  Use of weak passwords for authentication helps Cyber Criminals in their attempts to gain access to private accounts and companies’ data.

To prevent leakage of private information, businesses must enforce a secure password policy.  Ensuring that users create strong passwords or generating one for them is an effective way of reducing successful attacks and preventing unauthorized access to private accounts.

You are probably wondering what a strong password is; a strong or powerful password should have a minimum of 16 characters and it should also feature a combination of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, symbols, and spaces. A password that contains all these characters would be more complex and difficult to crack than those with repetitive numbers or common dictionary words. A balance must be reached between having a powerful password and being able to remember it. A useful rule, in this case, is to derive passwords from phrases that are unique to a particular person.

As privacy debates rage on, keeping users’ data safe is a duty a business must perform using all the resources at its disposal. If a breach occurs, the business can get blamed and sued regardless of the cause of the breach.

Below, we are going to discuss user’s password security, the best ways to go about it and its importance for businesses.

Changing Passwords Regularly

Regularly updating passwords may seem tiresome. It is, however, a strong protection against successful authentication attacks because it can help lock out an attacker who had maliciously obtained a user’s password. Security-conscious companies can enable this option by default in the account creation and activation process. An expiry time can also be set for each password so that users are prompted to change their passwords after a certain period of time. The more important an access level is, the stronger the need for a scheduled password update.

Enable Extra Verification

Extra verification can be activated in addition to regular passwords when the consequence  of being hacked may be catastrophic e.g. access to bank or financial transactions. In this  scenario, a second or third security layer is added so that a resource cannot be accessed without providing all the account credentials. This greatly improves a user’s account security since it is unlikely that a malicious user will have access to the secondary or tertiary verification steps of that particular account. A good example of this is the Two-Factor Authentication(2FA) where you will need to have access to your phone or email to get a verification code for accessing the service. This ensures that simply having a password isn’t enough for an attacker to gain access to a user’s account.

Enforce Password Policies

Businesses need to come up with a password policy that encourages their users as well as employees with high-security clearance to use more secure passwords. A password policy includes a set of rules that are designed to ensure the safety of the organization’s network and data. This includes rules that define requirements for creating a password that all employees or users of computing resources must comply with. For example, a password policy may include a rule that says all passwords should have a length of 16 or more characters. Other password policies may impose requirements on the type of characters to include on a password. For example, a password policy may ask users to have special characters such as *, #, £. Other policies may prohibit the use of words found in employee’s personal information or password blacklist.

Passwords are means of keeping private information or operations from unauthorized users. Through either user’s laxity or network attacks, malicious hackers can gain access to your users’ private information without their permission. This can be avoided if the users of a system are encouraged to create strong passwords that will be practically impossible to crack. With the strategies discussed above, you can be assured of creating a secure password security system that will keep your businesses’ and clients confidential information safe.  A reliable password policy will help ensure the security of users’ data and assets, it will help businesses to earn and retain the trust of its users and avoid losses due to leaked or stolen data.

Interested in establishing a secure password security system for your business? Schedule a FREE no obligation Network & Security Audit with us today,  Click Here to schedule your technology health check.

Common IT Security Compliance Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

June 17, 2025
Meeting IT security compliance standards is crucial for businesses that handle sensitive data, particularly in industries such as healthcare, finance, defense, and e-commerce. Regulatory frameworks such as HIPAA, CMMC, PCI-DSS, and GDPR exist to help ensure businesses protect customer information and maintain robust cybersecurity practices. Unfortunately, many organizations fall short of these requirements, often due to common, avoidable mistakes. These gaps can result in costly fines, data breaches, and reputational damage, which can significantly impact the business's bottom line and customer trust. 1. Failing to Conduct Regular Risk Assessments The Pitfall: Many businesses overlook the importance of conducting routine risk assessments. Without these, it’s challenging to identify vulnerabilities or evaluate whether your current cybersecurity controls meet compliance standards. How to Avoid It: Implement a regular risk assessment schedule. Work with a qualified IT provider to evaluate your systems, identify weaknesses, and document remediation plans. These assessments should be performed at least annually, or whenever significant changes to the system occur. 2. Inadequate Employee Training The Pitfall: Your employees are your first line of defense—and often your most significant vulnerability. A common compliance issue arises when businesses fail to train staff on cybersecurity best practices or on handling sensitive data appropriately. How to Avoid It: Invest in ongoing cybersecurity awareness training. Ensure employees understand how to recognize phishing emails, create strong passwords, and report any suspicious activity. Training should be updated regularly to reflect current threats and compliance requirements. 3. Improper Data Handling and Storage The Pitfall: Storing sensitive data in unsecured locations, failing to encrypt information, or retaining data longer than necessary are significant compliance risks. These practices are often flagged during audits. How to Avoid It: Adopt data classification policies that define how different types of data should be handled; encrypt sensitive data both at rest and in transit. Establish clear data retention policies and ensure that obsolete data is disposed of securely. 4. Lack of Incident Response Planning The Pitfall: When a security incident occurs, time is of the essence. Many businesses lack a documented incident response plan, or their existing plan hasn’t been thoroughly tested. This can lead to delayed responses, increased damage, and regulatory penalties. How to Avoid It: Develop a formal incident response plan that includes roles, responsibilities, communication protocols, and steps for containment and recovery. Run simulated breach scenarios with your IT team to ensure everyone knows how to respond effectively. 5. Using Outdated Software or Systems The Pitfall: Running outdated operating systems, software, or firmware is a common issue that can lead to compliance failures. Unsupported technologies are more vulnerable to exploitation. How to Avoid It: Keep all systems and applications up to date with the latest patches. Use automated tools to track software versions and receive alerts about end-of-life technologies. Schedule regular maintenance windows to apply updates and upgrades. 6. Insufficient Access Controls The Pitfall: Allowing too many employees access to sensitive data—or failing to revoke access when it’s no longer needed—can lead to data breaches and non-compliance. How to Avoid It: Implement role-based access controls and follow the principle of least privilege. This principle means that each user should have the minimum level of access necessary to perform their job. Regularly audit user accounts and permissions to ensure access is current and appropriate. Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an additional layer of protection. 7. Neglecting Third-Party Vendor Risks The Pitfall: Businesses often overlook the fact that their compliance responsibilities extend to third-party vendors. If a vendor mishandles your data, you could still be held accountable. How to Avoid It: Vet third-party vendors carefully. Ensure they meet the same compliance standards as your business and include security requirements in your contracts. Conduct periodic audits or request compliance certifications from your vendors. 8. Failing to Document Policies and Procedures The Pitfall: Even if your security practices are strong, failing to document your compliance policies can result in audit failures. Regulators want to see evidence that you have formal processes in place. How to Avoid It: Create and maintain clear documentation for all compliance-related policies, including data protection, access control, incident response, and employee training. Make these documents easily accessible for audits and regularly review them to ensure updates are current. Conclusion Compliance with IT security standards is not a one-time project—it requires ongoing attention, regular updates, and a proactive approach to maintain effectiveness. By understanding and addressing these common pitfalls, your business can stay ahead of regulatory requirements, strengthen its security posture, and reduce the risk of costly incidents. This ongoing attention is crucial to maintaining your business's security and audit readiness. If you’re unsure whether your business is meeting current IT compliance standards, professional support can help. Contact SDTEK today to schedule a compliance assessment and learn how our IT services can keep your business secure and audit-ready. With our support, you can navigate the complex landscape of IT security compliance with confidence.

Why Cybersecurity and Business IT Support Are Crucial for Fort Wayne Businesses

April 9, 2025
In today’s digital-first world, cybersecurity isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity. Whether you run a small startup or a growing enterprise in Fort Wayne , protecting your business’s data, systems, and clients is essential for long-term success. From ransomware attacks to phishing scams, cyber threats are evolving every day, and the best way to stay ahead of them is by partnering with a reliable IT services provider that understands the unique needs of local businesses. Here’s why investing in professional business IT support is one of the smartest decisions Fort Wayne businesses can make—and how working with SDTEK helps protect your operations, your data, and your reputation.