Developing quality passwords is the challenge of many businesses. Your software, particularly your financial software, contains confidential personal financial data that you do not want available to just anyone. Generating a secure password, however, is much harder than it seems. Your password must be hard-to-crack, as well as relevant enough for you to remember. The following tips will help you develop and store your password to ensure that your financial data does not get into the wrong hands.
- Choose passwords that would be difficult for those who know you to figure out.
If your password is challenging enough so that a friend or coworker can not figure it out, you are probably safe to assume that someone who does not know you will not be able to do so either. - Pick a phrase that is easy for you to recall and use acronyms.
Create a password using the first letter of each word in a phrase that you can recall easily. Use symbols such as pound or dollar signs or numbers within the password to achieve extra security. - Use keyboard combinations.
The most secure passwords use a combination of letters, symbols and numbers. - Avoid personal information.
Never include personal information in passwords. This applies to numbers such as license numbers, social security numbers, birth dates, etc. - Do not consult the dictionary for password formation.
Never use words that can be found in any published dictionary. - Change passwords every now and then.
Change your passwords quarterly. To ensure that you remember to change them, mark your calendar. This may be time-consuming, but it will most likely prevent you from identity theft. - Never reuse passwords.
You should never use the same password for multiple files, websites, servers or systems. Using the same password for many financial records increases the risk of someone finding it and gaining access to multiple records. Always use a unique password for each file, website and system. - Keep a record of important passwords.
While you should always keep record of the passwords that guard your financial data, never keep a written record near your computer. If you must store passwords, use an encrypted software. Make sure to keep a printed record passwords in your safe deposit box at a financial institution or another extremely secure physical location. Make a trip to the secure location every time you change passwords to ensure your data is up to date. When you do update the data, be sure to shred all old password records.