Using a Password Manager: Why It Is So Important

As our daily lives have become increasingly integrated with technology, passwords are now a central part of the information age. If you have an online account, you can bet there is a password associated with access. From online banking, utility accounts, and shopping, to social media, email, and streaming services – passwords are everywhere and they are critical to keeping your personal data safe. But there’s one problem. How does one remember all their unique, lengthy, and special-character infused passwords? They don’t.  That’s why you need a password manager.

Sticky notes, “123456”, password repeats, and simplified structure aren’t best practice when it comes to security. At Regroove, we use a password manager to assist us with password best practices and storing client account credentials securely.  

What Is a Password Manager?

A password manager is a tool that “generates strong passwords, stores them in an encrypted database, and retrieves them when needed.” (Password Manager Definition (techterms.com)

How Does Regroove Use a Password Manager?

Regroove uses the web-based password manager, Dashlane. Virtually all our projects require administrative access to external work environments – both in the cloud and locally (i.e., remote server access). To keep our clients’ information safe and secure, Dashlane provides encrypted storage that is accessible by a user’s master password (a “one password to rule them all” idea). Dashlane also has the ability to set up two-factor authentication (2FA). Once logged in, the ‘vault’ is open. We can access both personal and shared credentials, all of which have naming conventions, notes, and password health scores. Dashlane also generates complex passwords, should we need to reset old credentials. 

The tool is also important when onboarding and offboarding employees and is only one click away as a browser extension. When we hire someone, If we have a new hire, everything they need to successfully support a client can be found in the password manager. Furthermore, if a team member leaves the organization, we can easily close their account and block all access to confidential information.  

How Secure Is Regroove’s Password Manager?

S.E.C.U.R.E. A password manager’s number one priority is to leave their users less vulnerable to account hacking via poorly saved and created passwords. Password security is their bread🍞and butter🧈, unlike web browsers that offer rudimentary password management. Dashlane, for example, offers site breach alerts and can monitor the dark web, looking for leaked or stolen personal data. They will alert you if your information has been compromised. Dashlane also provides information on passwords that may have been reused and recommends changing passwords that are weak or repeated. Again, all data is encrypted. So, if a hacker gained access to a password manager’s server, the data would be of no use, because your encryption key (i.e., master password) is not stored within these servers.  

Password Managers for Personal Use? Yes!

Password managers aren’t all work and no play; we like to use them in our personal lives as well! Many Regroovers use the ‘personal’ side of their Dashlane account to store passwords for many of the services mentioned at the beginning of this blog. We can also store credit card details, banking information, IDs, and other forms of personal data in a secure manner. 

Curious about testing a password manager? Many offer trials or completely free plans. 

Password managers are but one piece of the security puzzle. At Regroove, we take the security of our clients and their data very seriously. If you would like an audit of your current security configuration, please complete the form below and our team of specialists will be in touch!