In an increasingly technology-driven economy, data privacy and protection are of paramount importance to any big corporation or law firm. Password strength, though often overlooked, is a fundamental aspect of digital security. However, a recent analysis by NordPass, a purveyor of a password manager, suggests that secure password practices may not be as widespread as they should be in some of the world’s largest companies, a particularly alarming observation for healthcare firms.
NordPass has assembled a list of the top 20 most common passwords in healthcare, based on usage trends observed. The top three passwords, startlingly, were ‘123456’, ‘password’, and a combination that included part of the company’s name. This is worrying as the simplest, most common passwords are the easiest to guess or crack using automated tools.
While the collection of these passwords is concerning, it’s part of a broader issue. Regardless of industry, secure password practices are often neglected, making it easier for unauthorized individuals to gain access to sensitive materials. For instance, using passwords attached to the company in some way — as in the instances where part of the company’s name was used — represents a simplistic approach to password creation that betrays a lack of understanding about security priorities in the digital age.
Password strength is a topic that has gained traction in recent years. Experts recommend the use of complex passwords, ideally a mix of alphanumeric characters that are unique to each online account. Using a password manager can also help secure these passwords by storing them securely and performing routine strength checks.
This issue serves as a reminder for corporations and law firms to continually educate their staff about best practices for creating strong, secure passwords. Migrating away from common or easily guessable passwords is not just a digital security consideration; it’s an integral step towards safeguarding a company’s data privacy and integrity. After all, poor password practices can have severe repercussions, including financial loss, a damaged reputation, and in the case of healthcare companies, potential harm to patients.