The effects of poor password management may greatly damage both an organization's security and its financial well-being, causing problems that can be devastating to any business. Attackers usually gain access to sensitive data through low-strength or stolen passwords. Sometimes an attacker can even use accounts within a network to launch sophisticated and dangerous cyber attacks into an organization's IT system.

Typically present in organizations with poor password management practices are weak and easily breakable passwords. When I use the term ‘weak’ to describe a password, I am referring to a low level of strength that the password provides simply because it is too easy to figure out if you have prior knowledge about the user, for example: pet names, or their children’s names.

Passwords that users are not required to change frequently enough allow attackers to compromise the system through cryptographic attacks. Passwords that have been written down can easily be compromised if someone finds this information.

Security threats from browser-based attacks, spyware, handheld devices, and voice over IP have continued to intensify over recent years. A major cause for the most severe security breaches can be truly unintentional and even can sometimes be caused by human error. This represents the need for a more thorough knowledge of technology functions, as well as a more advanced level of password security.

Thycotic’s password reset software uses Advanced Encryption Standard 256 bit - AES 256 encryption – which is the Rijandael algorithm for encrypting data in the SQL database. This encryption is approved by the U.S. Government and is currently the strongest encryption option available for password protection software. When this encryption feature is used in conjunction with the suite of other security features the company offers like DoubleLock, it is easy to see why Thycotic’s software is the best option for secure password resets and management.