Standards for Password Selection

by | Apr 12, 2021 | Bookkeeping for Law Firms, Bookkeeping for Property Management, Profit First, Small Business, tax tips | 0 comments

Standards for Password Selection - Bookkeeping Confidential bookkeeping for small businesses and startups, business tips, tax help, virtual bookkeeping services, password generation; cybersecurity; password policy; usability
Reading Time: 2 minutes

In this digitized world, we can’t avoid using sensitive/personal information online and on digital devices. In these spaces, there are ways to protect your personal information from nefarious people. Using a secure password can protect you from being hacked. In order to find the best ways to secure your information, it’s best to follow what the experts say. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides recommendations for using passwords.

Using a Passphrase

A password should be a phrase or sentence or series of associated words.

Ex. a line from a movie or song that has upper and lowercase letters included and has some vowels or small words dropped in.

NIST believes phrases are easier for people to remember because they are familiar. This would mean that people would less likely write it down.

How To Create a Secure Password

According to NIST, these are the recommended steps for creating a secure password.

1. Use items that have purpose to you by using the power of association.

2. Use items unique to you. Passphrases should be items that can go together in your head but hard for others to guess. If you can, incorporate numbers and symbols and use a mixture of capital and common letters.

Ex. Objects in your kitchen, such as RedStove1FlowerDaisy2. Avoid items that are simple to guess, such as a child’s name.

3. Create a passphrase you can picture in your mind, as with the example above.

The following video clip lists the best ways to secure your personal information.

For many of us, creating passwords is the bane of our online lives, forcing us to balance the need for security with the desire for something we can actually remember. To help ease our frustration, NIST has released a set of user-friendly, lay-language tips for password creation.

– The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
Sourced from: NIST website

NIST, as well as the IRS, recommends using passwords for desktop software in addition to your online accounts. Make sure to use a different password for each. They also encourage the use of a password management system that does not save your master password, if you need to ‘write’ down your passwords.

Best Option: Multi-factor authentication when able to, which can be used with a fingerprint or code texted from your cellphone to allow access.

You can never be too safe when it comes to protecting your personal data and important business accounts. You can lose everything you have worked for in a quick second. Protect your legacy and hard work by protecting your accounts from hackers.