🔒 It's World Password Day - a reminder to check how secure your passwords are and where you store that information.  There's a lot of password help and advice out there which can be confusing.  We highlight the basic things you need to be thinking about.

🛡️ Use three random words
🛡️ Turn on two-step verification (2SV) or multi-factor authentication (MFA)
🛡️ Don't reuse passwords or share your password in an email
🛡️ Use a Password Manager to keep things safe

Risks

🎣 Beware of phishing as they are designed to steal your credentials
💻 Keep devices up to date to reduce the risk of vulnerabilities
🔒 Keep your device secure with a strong password, PIN or biometric 

Accidentally filled out a phishing email?
📢 Let IT know as soon as possible
🛡️ Change your passwords

Intel created World Password Day - the first Thursday of May - to address the critical need for solid passwords.  The day was first celebrated in 2013, and since then it has become an important reminder to take password security seriously.   In a world where technology is increasingly integrated into our daily lives, our passwords serve as the first line of defence against cyber attacks. This article gives a high level view of keeping your password up to date with current views of what is a good password and more detail about the history of World Password Day: National World Password Day

We think it's a crucial element of to cyber security to have good ethos about password security in an organisation and have created some help and guidance all across our Knowledge Bank:  

A Guide to multi-factor authentication - where possible, turn on multi-factor authentication

Model Password Policy Template -consider a password policy

Password Security Learning Nugget - train staff about password best practice

Create a strong password - download awareness poster

Keep it Strong - Keep it long - download awareness poster

Password Best Practice Library - general support and guidance

Password Best Practice Checklist - a checklist to see where you are with password best practice

There should be rules set to ensure strong, complex passwords - the National Cyber Security Centre provides guidance about Passwords: NCSC Updating your approach with passwords

Further password advice from the Government: Password Guidance Simplifying Your Approach

Consider password security in relation to data protection: ICO Password Guidance

Browse our articles about passwords: 

A guide to multi-factor authentication
How a school fought back after a cyberattack
January Cyber update - How Can Schools Help Prevent Cyber Attacks?
Keeping your IT systems safe and secure
October is Cyber Security Awareness Month: 27. Passwords
Product Focus on Checklists : Passwords
The role of Passkeys in Cyber Resilience and Cyber Security
Types of Cyber Attacks: Password Attacks
Types of Cyber Attacks: Phishing
Types of Cyber Attacks: The Insider Threat
Why we recommend using PIN codes on printers
World Password Day