Be honest. Do you still have at least one password that looks like “12345” or “password123”?
If so, you’re not alone.
But that doesn’t mean it’s OK.
Despite years of warnings from IT experts (people like me), weak passwords are still everywhere. And that’s a real problem. Because they’re one of the easiest ways for cybercriminals to break into your business systems.
You’d be amazed how many companies are still using passwords that can be cracked in less than a second.
Recent research found that the most common business password is still “123456.”
Right behind it? “123456789,” “password,” and even the ever-popular “qwerty123.”
These aren’t just lazy choices. They’re open doors for hackers.
What’s worse, it’s not just huge enterprises that are getting this wrong. SMBs are guilty too. And they’re often hit harder when things go wrong because they don’t always have the same resources to recover.
A single stolen password can let an attacker access your email, files, financial systems, or even customer data.
The damage? It can be serious – both financially and to your reputation.
You might think, “But we don’t have anything worth stealing.” Trust me, you do. Even if you’re a team of five, your accounts, client data, and communications are all valuable targets. Cybercriminals don’t discriminate. They go for easy wins. And weak passwords are the easiest win there is.
Now here’s the kicker: Even if you’re not using “123456,” that doesn’t necessarily mean your credentials are secure. The research also found people using their own email address or their name as a password (eye roll). Some even used phrases like “iloveyou.”
It’s all very sweet… until a cybercriminal uses it to get into your systems.
So… what can you do to protect your business?
Start by implementing a strong password policy for businesses. That means making sure everyone uses long, unique, randomly generated passwords – ideally with a mix of upper- and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Nothing predictable.
Let’s be real: Nobody wants to remember 30 complicated passwords. That’s where a password manager steps in. It creates ultra-secure passwords for each login and stores them safely – so your team doesn’t need to rely on memory (or sticky notes under the keyboard).
Even better? Enable two-factor authentication. You’ve likely seen this – you log in and then get a code on your phone or app. Even if a password is compromised, this extra layer keeps intruders out. It’s simple, effective, and one of the easiest upgrades you can make to your strong password policy for businesses.
If you really want to get ahead of the curve, consider switching to passkeys. These let users log in without a password at all – using biometrics like a fingerprint or secure device authentication. Passkeys are safer, simpler, and gaining ground fast.
In short, a strong password policy for businesses isn’t optional anymore – it’s your front line of cyber defense. If your team is still using “abc123,” it’s time for a change.
Need help reviewing your current password practices or setting up a more secure login system for your team? My team and I would love to help. Get in touch.
