Preparation key to password protection, report says

Companies with many employees may run into serious trouble if their staff members are using the same passwords for their personal and business use.

According to a recent Dark Reading report by Robert Lemos, there are several ways businesses can protect their information from online security attacks. Organizations are encouraged to provide their employees with free security tools and services as incentives to protect their interests.

If companies do utilize passwords, the writer also suggested they should use a passphrase to bolster their protection. Lemos cited a study from Trustwave that researched a database of 2.5 million passwords and managed to breach 10 percent of them with little resistance. More than 60 percent of these phrases were 60 characters or fewer.

Increasing security defenses can only go so far. Entrust product management director Mark Joynes told the news source that companies must be prepared if their passwords are breached, which includes having an access and identify management system in place.

Companies can also ensure their IT infrastructure is protected from password theft through the use of password management software. Security News Daily writer Sue Marquette Poremba recently suggested greater effort must be made to protect this information.