Best Practices for Passwords

In this section, we will focus on best practices for written passwords. There are several ways in which you can keep your password safe as part of a ‘clear desk’ policy to help protect your sensitive data.

1. Never leave your password written out or lying around: If you have to have a written password, keep it out of sight. An example of this done incorrectly is when people have their passwords written out on a Post-it Note. That Post-it Note tends to be either stuck to a monitor or on the phone, on their computer, or on their desk — generally, someplace where the password is visible. This is not a good security practice, so if you have to have it written out, keep it locked up.

2. Use a notebook: A notebook could be a convenient way to keep your passwords and your accounts in a written format. However, always have the notebooks locked up when not in use.

3. Use a password manager: A password manager can keep your passwords safe in an encrypted program. There are portable options, where you can have it on a USB drive, which will also be encrypted. So if you lose the USB drive, it would be difficult to access.

These are three ways that you can keep your password safe.

Reflect and share: Do you have any tips you can share that we have not already mentioned? Share with your fellow learners.