How to create secure passwords

/ Tech Updates / By

Weak passwords are one of the easiest ways for cyber criminals to break into your business.

Why? Because once they get just one password — one door unlocked — it can lead to full access: client data, financials, email, even control of your systems.

And they’re not guessing manually. They’re using automated tools that can run millions of password combinations in seconds. So if anyone on your team is using “Password123” or “Company2025”… that’s basically handing them the keys.

When a password gets compromised, the fallout can be serious:

  • Data breaches
  • Financial loss
  • Identity theft
  • Damaged trust and reputation

But here’s the good news — fixing this doesn’t have to be painful.

Think of a good password like a secret recipe. Only you know the ingredients, and they’re not obvious. A strong password should:

  • Be at least 14 characters long
  • Include uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols
  • Avoid anything personal (names, birthdays, company names)
  • Skip the obvious stuff like “admin” or “welcome1”

An easy upgrade? Use passphrases. Something like Coffee&CloudsAreGreat9! is way stronger than Sailing2025 — and still easy to remember.

Avoid the usual mistakes:

  • Don’t reuse passwords across different accounts
  • Don’t use predictable patterns like 123456 or abcdef
  • And please — no sticky notes on your monitor

Worried about remembering all this? Don’t. That’s what password managers are for. They create strong, unique passwords, store them securely, and fill them in for you. All you need is one strong master password — the rest is handled.

And even the best passwords need backup. That’s why multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a must. It adds a second layer of protection — like a one-time code from your phone — so even if someone gets the password, they still can’t get in.

If you have a team, now’s the time to get a password policy in place. At a minimum:

  • Unique passwords for every system and account
  • Company-wide MFA
  • Basic security training (and reminders)
  • Regular checks for compromised passwords

These are simple, powerful steps that reduce risk fast.

Need help putting it all in place? That’s what we do — reach out anytime.