The First Rule of Password Security: Never Rely on Just a Password

The First Rule of Password Security: Never Rely on Just a Password

This year, World Password Day serves as a critical reminder: passwords alone are no longer enough to protect your business.

Cyber threats have evolved,  and so must our approach to securing access to data and systems. Implementing strong multi-factor authentication (MFA), using secure password management systems, tightening access controls, and educating users are now essential steps in reducing risk and building cyber resilience.

This World Password Day, let’s explore why relying solely on password security puts businesses at risk, highlight common mistakes, and outline actionable strategies that go far beyond simply “choosing a strong password” to truly strengthen your organisation’s defences.

The Current Landscape: Alarming 2025 Password Security Statistics

In 2025, the threat landscape has intensified, with compromised credentials remaining a leading cause of data breaches. For IT leaders and security teams, outdated password security policies are no longer just a vulnerability, they’re a liability.

• Last 12 months: The 2025 Cyber Security Breaches Survey found that 70% of medium and 74% of large businesses have suffered a cyberattack in the past year.
• Credential Compromise Remains Prevalent: Approximately 80% of successful data breaches stem from compromised login credentials. (Source: keeper.io)
• Human Element in Breaches: 85% of breaches involve a human element, including phishing, stolen credentials, and human error. (Source: NCSC)
• Password Reuse is Rampant: 50% of internet users reuse passwords across multiple accounts, increasing vulnerability to credential stuffing attacks. (Source: Forbes)
• Weak Passwords Still Common: Simple passwords like “123456” and “password” remain among the most frequently used in the UK, making them easy targets for attackers. (Source: Nordpass)
• Delayed Breach Detection: It takes an average of 277 days to identify and contain breaches involving stolen credentials. (Source: Keepnet)

MFA is No Longer Optional

Relying solely on passwords puts businesses at risk because passwords are easily stolen, reused, or guessed. Even strong passwords can be compromised through phishing or credential stuffing attacks. Without additional authentication methods like MFA, it’s far too easy for attackers to impersonate users and move undetected within systems. Modern security demands a layered approach; passwords alone are no longer enough. In 2025, MFA should be a baseline requirement for every organisation.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is now one of the most effective ways to prevent credential-based attacks. By requiring two or more forms of verification, such as a password, combined with a biometric scan or a number-matching push notification, MFA significantly reduces the chances that a stolen password alone can be exploited.

Key considerations for modern MFA deployment:

• Use number-matching push notifications to prevent MFA fatigue attacks.
• Implement adaptive MFA that changes requirements based on user location, risk, and device status.
• Enforce MFA for all users, particularly those with privileged, remote, or executive access.

Common Pitfalls in Enterprise Password Management

Despite advancements in cybersecurity, many organisations continue to make critical errors, often only addressing them after a breach has occurred:

• Overreliance on Passwords: Failing to implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) leaves accounts vulnerable.
• Weak or Inconsistent Password Policies: Not enforcing strong password policies consistently across all users, systems, and devices.
• Password Reuse Across Systems: Allowing password reuse internally (or worse, between personal and corporate accounts).
• Neglecting Privileged Accounts: Service and administrative accounts often retain static passwords for extended periods.
• Insufficient User Training: Employees unaware of phishing tactics and password best practices increase organisational risk.

Our 10 Essential Cybersecurity Tips

In today’s threat landscape, passwords alone aren’t enough to protect an organisation’s sensitive data and systems. With credential-based attacks continuing to rise, it’s critical for IT leaders to take a multi-layered approach to security. Strengthening authentication, tightening access controls, and empowering employees through training can dramatically reduce the risk of breaches.

Here are 10 essential tips every business should be implementing:

1- Implement Robust Access Controls
Use user authentication and role-based access controls to strictly limit access to sensitive systems and data.

2 – Enforce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Strengthen login security by requiring an additional verification step, ideally using number-matching push notifications to guard against MFA fatigue attacks.

3 – Implement Single Sign-On (SSO)
Reduce password fatigue and improve security by enabling users to access multiple applications with a single set of credentials.

4 – Use a Password Management System
Deploy an enterprise-grade password manager to enforce unique, complex credentials, particularly for IT administrators, privileged accounts, and service accounts.

5 – Conduct Regular Security Audits
Perform thorough security audits and vulnerability scans to proactively identify and remediate system weaknesses.

6 – Keep Systems Updated
Apply patches and updates promptly, as they often contain critical security fixes against newly discovered threats.

7 – Provide Continuous Employee Training
Regularly educate employees on cybersecurity best practices, phishing awareness, and safe digital behaviour. A knowledgeable workforce is a vital line of defence.

8 – Monitor for Compromised Credentials
Use threat intelligence and monitoring tools to detect when corporate credentials appear in breaches, allowing quick action before exploitation.

9 – Limit Administrative Privileges
Apply the principle of least privilege — only grant admin rights where absolutely necessary and separate admin accounts from daily-use accounts.

10 – Develop a Robust Backup and Disaster Recovery Plan
Ensure frequent backups, maintain an immutable backup copy, and test disaster recovery processes to minimise downtime and data loss should you suffer a breach.

Partner with Krome for Enhanced Data Security Solutions

As a managed services provider who specialises in cyber security, we understand the complexities of implementing an effective IT security strategy.

Our team of specialist security consultants can advise you on all aspects of implementing an effective IT security strategy, minimising risk, maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of sensitive information, meeting compliance regulations, blocking access and preventing successful cyber-attacks on your organisation from external or insider threats. With years of experience and a deep understanding of cybersecurity best practices, we are well-equipped to assess your organisation’s vulnerabilities and design customised solutions to mitigate risks effectively. From threat detection and incident response to access management and compliance, we have the knowledge and expertise to keep your data safe and secure.

We believe in staying ahead of the curve, which is why we continuously invest in cutting-edge technologies and industry-leading techniques. Our proactive approach to cybersecurity ensures that you are always one step ahead of potential threats, giving you the peace of mind to focus on what matters most—your business.

Whether you’re a small startup or a large enterprise, our team is here to help you navigate the complex world of cybersecurity with our comprehensive portfolio of solutions and services.

Our Cyber Security Services include:

• Managed SOC Service: Outsource your security operations with proactive 24/7/365 eyes on screen monitoring, detection, and response to threats, ensuring your organisation stays secure around the clock.
• Advanced Threat Protection: Through the deployment of cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, we offer real-time monitoring and actionable threat intelligence.
• Identity and Access Management (IAM): Ensure secure access controls and identity verification, such as MFA, SSO, Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), to prevent unauthorised access to critical systems.
• Endpoint Security Measures: Implement robust endpoint security measures, whatever the endpoint (user, workstation, mobile, infrastructure or OT technologies), to defend against malware, ransomware, and other endpoint threats.
• Network Security Enhancement: Strengthen your network defences with advanced solutions to detect and mitigate potential vulnerabilities.
• Point in Time Assessment or Testing: We can provide a point in time review of your Cyber Security protection, allowing you to get an external view on how you are prepared for an attack. We can also provide simulated attack services to test the response of your team.
• User Education: We can help you with ongoing user training to enhance awareness and reinforce the human element of your cybersecurity strategy.
• Cyber Essentials Plus Readiness Assessments: By leveraging our expertise in cybersecurity and data governance, we can help you build a resilient cybersecurity posture to enable you to achieve your Cyber Essentials Plus certification.

For more detailed information or to talk to us about how we can strengthen your security defences, please contact us today.