Category Archives: Data Backup

Why Are Managing Passwords So Hard?

Managing Passwords
Cybersecurity, Data Backup, Security, , , ,

We do most of our business online—emailing, shopping, banking, and much more. But before you take any action, you must log in with a name and password. It’s pretty routine, but with the rapidly growing number of online services that require passwords, it can get increasingly difficult when we are managing these passwords.

Managing Passwords Can Be Difficult

We all know that passwords are necessary to ensure that only you will access your accounts. But managing passwords can become somewhat hard, especially when you already have so many that you need to remember, and we can all relate to this, right? Here are some reasons why password management is a challenge.

Too Many Passwords to Remember

Many people write their passwords in a notebook or digital file. Others have high confidence in their memory and choose to memorize them. This would work well for passwords you use frequently, but for those you seldom use, you will probably forget it when you need it next.

Constant Password Changes

Changing passwords every so often will help ensure the security of your accounts. With all the changes, it is easy to become confused, especially if you forget that you have already changed the password and the one you remember was the old one.

Need for Unique and Complex Passwords

Because of the frustration of remembering so many passwords, most people use the same password across different accounts. We can’t emphasize enough just how dangerous this practice can be! The moment one of your accounts gets infiltrated, the hacker will have a field day because they can access all your other data! Thus, there is an absolute need for different passwords for each of your accounts. This is crucial for security but does make managing passwords a bit more of a challenge.

How Managing Password Applications Can Help

There is something that you can do to manage your passwords better while enhancing their security at the same time. It is done by using a reliable password management application.

Password managers are commonplace these days, but you have to choose carefully. Consider the level of security they offer, the ease of use, and their suitability for the needs of your business. We have listed five of the top password managers in last week’s blog, which you can read here.

Alternatively, you can take advantage of modern technology that enhances data security and user experiences, like biometric login and multi-factor authentication.

Biometric Login

Biometrics is a modern way of logging into an account where you no longer need to enter a password. Instead, a physical trait that is particular to you serves as proof of your identity. Fingerprints are the most commonly used, but some applications also use other biometrics like facial recognition, voice recognition, and iris matching.

Multifactor Authentication

Along with a traditional password, this login method requires additional proof of identity before allowing access to an account, thus multiplying your protection from unwanted access.

Importance of Managing Passwords in Digital Estate Planning

Biometric login and multi-factor authentication are valuable for improving security for businesses, but they can also spell new problems, especially regarding gaining access to your business passwords after the owner’s death.

Let’s say the successor or inheritor of the business gets possession of the computers, gadgets, and so on. If all accounts are set up for biometric login using the owner’s attributes, getting access to the business accounts can prove very difficult. Hence, despite these modern tools, efficient password management should still be implemented.

We invite you to Watch our Cloud Webinar and discover some new insights on the topic. You can also learn about managing passwords, which can add to protecting your business information.

Best Password Management for Businesses

Best Password Management
Data Backup, Security, Technology, , , ,

The best password management is important for businesses. If your passwords are weak or not stored in a safe location, hackers can easily penetrate your system, causing a myriad of damage to the company, your clients, your customers, and who knows what else. You don’t want that to happen!

Fortunately, there are now a lot of reliable password management solutions that are ideal for business use. Some are browser-based, while others are applications you can download onto your computer or smartphone. But if you want the best password management solutions, go with those based in the cloud.

Advantages of Cloud-Based Password Managers

Cloud-based password managers offer more in terms of both safety and convenience, as compared to all the other kinds.

Many people are still hesitant about using cloud technology because of safety concerns. They think cloud solutions are more susceptible to cyberattacks since they are “out there” instead of being in your office. But with the highly advanced encryption methods most cloud providers use, your passwords will be safer on the cloud than on your own servers.

As for convenience, a password manager company that uses cloud technology gives you easier access to your passwords. You can get into it on any device, no matter where you are, as long as there is an internet connection.

Top Best Password Management Solutions for Businesses Today

As mentioned earlier, there are many business password manager programs that are available these days. But we want you to experience only the safest and most reliable programs for your business. That is why we focused only on cloud-based password managers as we scoured the web for the five best solutions you can choose from.

LastPass is one of The Best Password Management

As an all-inclusive password management tool, LastPass offers many features and services that boost the security and overall management of your business login information. Some of their most popular features are password generation, auto-fill, and on-cloud storage. They use multi-factor authentication for added security.

Dashlane

Second on our list is Dashlane which, besides the same password generation, auto-fill, and storage features, also provides dark web monitoring. This service will immediately notify you if your login information becomes compromised. It also has a secure VPN service that makes for a fast and secure connection no matter where you are.

1Password

If you are looking for a business password company that will do much more than generate strong passwords for you and store them in a secure cloud location, 1Password is a great solution to try. They take password management to the next level by using AES-256-bit encryption to protect your data, and their vigilant monitoring will alert you as soon as they detect a breach or even the existence of a weak or duplicate password in your system.

Keeper

One of Keeper’s features is the many security layers it offers. Ideal for both business and personal use, Keeper uses end-to-end encryption to protect your credentials. They combine AES-256 with PBKDF2 encryption,   an advanced technique used only in top-security networks, making your data virtually untouchable by hackers.

RoboForm

RoboForm proves you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to enjoy top-quality security for your passwords. With one of the most affordable subscription rates available today, RoboForm does not offer as many features as some of the more expensive options. However, they provide solid password auditing, auto-fill, and multi-factor authentication, which will more than keep your login credentials adequately protected.

Final Thoughts For Choosing The Best Password Management

Choose a password manager that fits your business needs. When considering software, it is important to prioritize security, compatibility, ease of use, and compliance. Make sure the rules are followed with regulations that apply to your industry, like the GDPR or the PCI DSS.

For password tips and tricks, Download our Free Password Management Cheatsheet. If you’re not already using it, passwords are safer in the Cloud! Also, watch our cloud webinar about password safety and management. We are just a call away if you need any advice or help with password management!

Why Businesses Need Password Management

Password Management
Data Backup, Security, Technology, , , , ,

As digital technology becomes more advanced, so do the risks of online security breaches. Cyberattacks continue to be a problem, so businesses need to implement reliable security measures now more than ever. There are many security solutions available. One of the simplest yet most effective is a first-rate password management solution.

What Is Password Management?

Password management is a general term that refers to the steps a business uses to keep passwords secure. It includes everything about passwords, from knowing how to pick a good one all the way to using advanced software to store and regularly update all the passwords.

We all know how important it is to choose passwords that are hard to decipher and to make sure no one knows your passwords. But this is easier said than done. It happens very often that people forget passwords. For this reason, you might have a digital file where you keep all your passwords, or you might write them in an actual notebook. However, these kinds of password storage solutions are not very secure. This is where password managers come in.

Why Using a Password Manager Is Necessary for Businesses

Every business would benefit from a password manager, especially if the operations and transactions happen online. There are a few different managers in use today: browser-based, portable, desktop-based, or cloud-based. Of these, the latter is the most highly advisable and necessary for business use with password management. Why so? Here are some excellent reasons.

You don’t need to remember every password you have

Practically everything we do online requires us to log in for security reasons. This means the average person today would have at least a dozen different passwords to remember. Perhaps you can use the same password for all accounts so you will have fewer to remember, but that is not secure.

With password management, you don’t have to remember so much because the software will remember it all for you. This allows for less clutter in your mind and, ultimately, higher work productivity. One password you have to remember is the one to log into the password manager.

You can access your passwords from anywhere

Since we store the password manager in the cloud, you can access it from anywhere that you have internet access. It’s not just you, either. Any individual with permission will also be able to get access to the passwords.

Password management gives you more security

As with many cloud services, a cloud-based password manager comes with dependable security features that you can trust. Also, if you use the password manager to generate passwords, it will give you something more secure than your birthday for a password. It will generate complex combinations that are virtually impossible to crack.

An Extra Boost of Security

A password manager is of great help in terms of convenience and security. But there are other modern solutions that you can take advantage of as a business owner to ensure your data is secure. One solution today is using biometrics as an alternative login method.

Biometrics uses physical attributes, like fingerprints, facial recognition, or voice recognition, that are unique to the individual, making it impossible for anyone else to access their account.

Another way to elevate password security is via multi-factor authentication. The added layers of verification will reduce the chances that unauthorized individuals might get in.

Protect Your Business by Protecting Your Passwords

To help you understand further the importance of password management in business, we invite you to Watch our Webinar on Digital Estate Planning and why Password Management is a must. It seems like such a minor thing, but keeping your passwords protected is essential to the overall security of your business. Call us today so we can get started!

10 Reasons Why Businesses Need a Digital Estate Plan

digital estate plan
Data Backup, Security, Technology, , , , ,

In the last two weeks, we have talked about digital estate plans and why it is crucial for businesses today to have one. Since most business data is now stored digitally, it makes sense to protect these digital assets in the event the business owner passes away.

If you still don’t have one and are still on the fence about whether creating one is worth your time and effort, we have listed 10 excellent reasons to encourage you to get started soon.

1. Protection of Digital Assets with a Digital Estate Plan

This step is the primary purpose of planning—it ensures that your business and all its digital assets are adequately protected after the owner dies, especially if they are the only ones with access to the business accounts and other online information. Instead of being lost in cyberspace, they will pass the digital assets on to the owner’s chosen successor.

2. Business Continuity with a Digital Estate Plan

The death of the owner doesn’t mean the end of the business. With a well-prepared digital estate plan, you can show your long-term goals for your business and assign individuals to carry on these goals. Hence, your business can continue to prosper years after you are gone.

3. Better Control of the Business

Sometimes a business may carry on after the owner’s passage, but in a direction that differs from what the owner had originally intended. You can prevent this so your business follows your intended path by specifying how you want your digital assets managed in the digital estate plan.

4. Legal Compliance

The law requires businesses to follow specific regulations regarding data protection and privacy. Compliance with these legal requirements is one of the high-priority items in a digital estate planning checklist. When creating your plan, check for local regulations that might apply to your business.

5. Intellectual Property Protection

Most businesses own several digital assets that are intellectual property. These include company logos, brand names, trademarks, and patents. Digital estate planning ensures the protection of all these intellectual properties by enabling the business owner to decide on the manner of their eventual management or distribution.

6. Identity Theft Prevention through Digital Estate Plan

When a business owner dies, the company’s digital assets might become susceptible to data breaches or identity theft unless there is a proper delegation of management roles, which a digital estate plan can help ensure.

7. Dispute Prevention

Just like in a regular will, those left out sometimes fight over the inheritance. The same can happen in a business when the owner passes. As a business owner, you can prevent these kinds of disputes by creating a digital estate plan that shows the roles you want your business partners, stakeholders, and family members to play in the business after you have gone.

8. Tax Liability Reduction

Turning over the ownership of a business can come with hefty taxes, but a plan can significantly help reduce these taxes.

9. Legacy Preservation

Even if you completely trust your successor to do well in your business, it is still something else to preserve your legacy after your death. A plan lets you specify the direction you want to go with your business and gives your successor a guide on managing the business how you would have wanted them to.

10. Smooth and Seamless Transition

With everything laid out in the plan, transferring ownership can go on without hiccups. There will be no wasting of time, money, and other resources. All that has to happen is the execution of the estate plan.

Create Your Digital Estate Plan with Our Help Today

There they are – 10 compelling reasons to prepare a digital estate plan for your business. If you are ready to take the next step, we are always here to assist in any way we can.

For more information, download our free Digital Estate Planning Checklist and Password Cheat Sheet right here. Contact us if you have questions! We will help you ensure that your business stays protected, now and after your passing.