Cybersecurity and network security are no joke. Cyberattacks are tremendously devastating and have the ability to destroy organizations. Just ask:
- SolarWinds – foreign attackers (believed to be from Russia) added malware to the company’s software system, which was subsequently passed along to all SolarWinds customers when it sent out a software update, resulting in breaches of the Pentagon, the Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Treasury, among many others.
- Colonial Pipelines – using passwords obtained from the Dark Web, hackers held this organization’s data hostage in exchange for $5 million.
- Kaseya – notorious cybercriminal conglomerate REvil issued the largest ransom demand to date ($70 million) to this organization over the 4th of July weekend last year.
And those were in 2021 alone. One of the best ways that an organization can avoid joining the ranks of those unfortunate 2021 cyberattack victims is by protecting its network security using a password manager.
Remember when you used to just simply jot down your basic and straightforward password (which may have been a pet’s name or a significant anniversary date) on a Post-it note and leave it in an accessible place at your desk? Those days are long gone.
Over 80% of 2021 hacking-related breaches were related to password issues.
It’s time to take a deeper look at how the madness of cybercriminal activity can best be avoided.
Fortunately, there are several password management tools on the market. A password management tool, or password manager, is a software application that will securely store and manage digital passwords and log-in credentials. Unfortunately, it can be daunting to know which one will best meet the needs of your organization, and there are a whole lot of them to wade through. Here we review 4 of the most widely used password managers: 1Password, Keeper, Bitwarden, and LastPass.
1Password
As its name indicates, only one master password is required with 1Password. Biometric log-in can also be used (facial identification or fingerprint). A bonus with 1Passport is that there is no limit on the number of users that can share the account, which makes it a good option for organizations. Easy setup, good category classifications, and multilayered security are some of the strongest features. Originally configured for Apple products (Macs and iPhones), they have implemented some improvements in recent years to make the platform more compatible with Windows and Android users. The cost starts at $2.99 per month, and there is no free version of the tool available.
Keeper
Keeper is another decent password manager option, although users do often complain about some of the bugs with the platform, including inconvenient experiences around form filling. Users also point to Keeper’s tech support as being a bit lacking. On the plus side, however, Keeper wins points for having strong security in place, having a consistent user interface, and offers file and photo storage features.
Bitwarden
One of the newer products in the password manager market, Bitwarden has been on the scene since 2015 and is open-source software. In the pro column, Bitwarden has good platform and browser compatibility, is easy to navigate, and has strong security in place with two-factor authentication. In the con column, Bitwarden’s tech support is fairly nonexistent, its user interface is quite basic and, overall, the product doesn’t have a lot of the bells and whistles that competing products have.
LastPass
LastPass boasts fantastic security features, including military-grade encryption. To keep your organization as safe as possible, LastPass integrates Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and Temporary one-time passwords (TOTP) which makes managing the tool straight-forward for the end user. Their free version is one of the most preferred and feature-rich options on the market. While LastPass is on all major platforms and most browsers, it doesn’t support a couple of the less popular browsers (Vivaldi and Brave). LastPass is lauded for being user-friendly, having great access to tech support, and having robust and secure storage capabilities.
And the Winner Is …
Drum roll please. And the winner is … you! For taking this critical step in ensuring your organizational network security through a password manager! Also … LastPass. We give LastPass the advantage since, in addition to its many bells and whistles, it comes with identity theft monitoring on top of Dark Web monitoring. Dark Web monitoring is a major security boon and is a feature that not a lot of the other password manager tools have.
Seamlessly Implement LastPass With Nutmeg Consulting
Unlike other managed services providers (MSPs), Nutmeg Consulting is a true business partner dedicated to keeping your organization protected and thriving. We look to the businesses of our organizational partners with a wide lens and consider all elements of their scope and strategy in assessing the best and most comprehensive IT services to help them meet their business goals. Including, but not limited to, setting your organization on the path to optimal network security through a password manager implementation.
Reach out today and let’s discuss next steps.