As the UK moves to ban common and easily guessed passwords in a landmark cybersecurity initiative, Rachel Rowlandson, Service Director at Evolve, underscores the significance of this decision ahead of World Password Day, emphasizing the critical importance of robust password policies in safeguarding businesses against evolving cyber threats.
Rachel Rowlandson, Service Director at Evolve
This week’s move to ban common and easily guessed passwords in the UK as part of world-first laws is a welcome move that I believe could significantly improve the UK's resilience from cyber-attacks. It will not only protect businesses, but end of some bad digital habits that most of us have been guilty of.
Coming as it does ahead of World Password Day on 2 May, this is a timely reminder that in today's digital landscape, the humble password still serves as the first line of defence for businesses against cyber threats. Yet in 2022, more than 24 billion passwords were exposed by hackers, and around 80% of confirmed breaches are related to stolen, weak, or reused passwords.
Weak passwords represent a significant security risk, exposing individuals and organisations to various threats, including unauthorised access, data breaches, identity theft, and loss of trust and reputation. Robust password policies are therefore critical for ensuring the security of digital assets and accounts. They not only make it more difficult for hackers to access accounts, systems, and sensitive information, as cyber threats evolve, they allow organisations to adapt and respond to new challenges effectively. I would urge any business concerned about cybersecurity or password best practices to seek the advice of third-party experts who can help update policies that reflect emerging cyber-threats.