Cyber security is a pressing issue for any business. Gone are the days when you can store your passwords on a shared excel sheet. Hackers are getting smarter than ever, and a cyber security incident can have enormous ramifications for businesses and individuals. A considerable amount of data breaches comes from poor password habits, whether that’s using the same one for every account or leaving your password database exposed.
The idea behind password management software is that allows you to store all your passwords safely in one place, so you don’t have to use a variation of the same word for all your accounts or try and remember a bunch of unique passwords. They’ll often store your log-in credentials in an encrypted format and a centralised location, which you can retrieve as and when you need. Many software will also create strong passwords for you, using a range of alphanumeric characters and symbols, mitigating the cyber risk of somebody guessing your log-in or brute forcing your information.
KeePass
KeePass is both a password generator and credential storage tool. It’s easy to use and boasts a comprehensive set of features. By using industry-standard AES encryption as well as two-factor authentication, it aims to keep your log-in details, passwords and credentials secured.
Another key benefit to KeePass is the platform’s portability. Not only can you download it on Windows, Mac and Linux, as well as other mobile devices, but you can also store your database and the software on a USB stick for added protection. It’s also one of the lighter-weight options, meaning it won’t clog up valuable space on your PC.
A range of plug-ins also exist for KeePass to extend what is already an impressive set of features. Some examples of plug-ins allow you to sync your KeePass data automatically with your cloud storage facility or your browser, and it’s particularly helpful for businesses who want to share passwords amongst their teams.
Password Safe
Password Safe is a convenient and straightforward free open source software package compatible with Windows. It’s one of the more basic password software on the market which is reflected in its slightly more dated user interface. That said, it does the job well – users can create password and username lists which are stored in an encrypted format, accessible with a master password. One of the features is also a password generator, which can create complex, random passwords to enhance your security.
Passbolt
Widely regarded as one of the best open source password management software is Passbolt, particularly for teams and DevOps. It’s specially tailored to SMEs, though it can be used by an unlimited amount of users free of charge, meaning it can cater to larger companies, too. The software allows users to share passwords, to import and export databases in CSV and kdbx formats and easily integrate the software with their browsers.
