In the digital era, small business security is a challenge for all business owners. Your business’s security is only as strong as its weakest link, and often, that link is an easily guessable or frequently reused password. This article will shed light on the potential risks of weak password practices and how a password manager, specifically Keeper, can mitigate these risks and substantially boost your company’s security.
The Risks of Weak Passwords
Even in 2023, the most commonly used passwords remain shockingly simple. “123456,” “password,” and “qwerty” still top the charts (as reported by CyberNews), and these are the first guesses for any cybercriminal. In the bustling environment of a small business, it’s understandable that employees might opt for something easy to remember, but these weak passwords pose a significant risk.
A weak password can lead to unauthorised access to your company’s data, potentially resulting in severe consequences. The same goes for reusing passwords. If an employee uses the same password across multiple accounts and one of those accounts is compromised, all accounts become vulnerable. Data breaches can lead to financial loss, damage to your company’s reputation, and even legal repercussions.
Brute Forcing Passwords
Brute forcing a password is a method used to uncover your password by systematically trying all possible combinations of characters until the correct one is found. It is an exhaustive and time-consuming technique, but it can be effective if the password is weak or if the attacker has significant computational resources at their disposal.
The graphic below shows how quickly a hacker can brute force a password based on the length and complexity.
Clearly, we should all be using passwords of at least 12 characters containing numbers, uppercase and lowercase letters, and symbols. However, with the large number of systems and accounts in use for a single user, remembering those passwords would be a near impossible task.
The Strength of Password Management
So, what’s the solution? Enter Keeper, a leading password manager designed to add an extra layer of security to your business. Keeper simplifies the process of creating and maintaining strong, unique passwords for all your business’s accounts.
Password Generation: Keeper generates robust, randomised passwords that are highly resistant to hacking attempts. These passwords, which you don’t need to remember, can be as complex as the site allows, significantly increasing your security
Password Storage: Keeper securely stores all these complex passwords. You won’t need to worry about forgetting them, as Keeper stores them in a personal, encrypted digital vault.
Ease of Use: Even for those who aren’t tech-savvy, Keeper is straightforward to use. Its intuitive interface means you’ll spend less time worrying about passwords and more time focusing on your business. Keeper is available as both a browser extension and as a mobile app, meaning you’ll have your passwords available at your fingertips, whenever you need them.
The Security of Keeper’s Encryption
But how secure is Keeper? The answer lies in its encryption technology. Encryption is a method of scrambling data so that only someone with the correct key can unscramble it. Keeper uses what’s known as zero-knowledge security architecture, which means your data is encrypted and decrypted only at the device level – not on Keeper’s servers or anywhere else. This method ensures that only you have access to your information.
Keeper employs AES-256 bit encryption, one of the most secure encryption methods and the standard for governments and industries around the world. This encryption method is more secure than other options because it uses a larger key size, making it exponentially more difficult for hackers to crack.
In addition to Keepers secure encryption, it has other built in safeguards. For example, if someone tries to add your account to a new device, they won’t be able to unless your administrator approves it.
Conclusion
With cyber threats on the rise, there’s no better time than now to ensure your small business is as secure as it can be. By investing in Keeper, you’re not just buying a password manager – you’re buying peace of mind. With robust password generation, secure storage, ease of use, and world-class encryption technology, Keeper is the comprehensive security solution your small business needs.
Don’t let your business be the next victim of a preventable data breach. Step up your cybersecurity game with Keeper, and keep your business, your employees, and your customers safe.
Click the “Get in Touch” button below or Contact Us to find out how Keeper can increase your business security.