Password encryption is essential to store user credentials stored in a database securely. Without password encryption, anyone accessing a user database on a company's servers (including hackers) could easily view any stored passwords.
Even a strong 32-character password created using a <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">secure password generator</a> is useless without password-encryption! If someone can read your password on a server, they can use it simply by copy/pasting it&mdash;no matter how long or complicated the password might be!
Encryption scrambles your password before saving it on the server. So, if someone hacks the server, instead of finding password123, they find a random series of letters and numbers.
In this article, we're going to explore the world of password encryption, why <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/tips-and-tricks-to-create-a-strong-password">strong passwords matter</a>, and how you can practice better password management!
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a> is the password management solution for small businesses! Create, store, and share login credentials safely with employees, contractors, and clients. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> today!
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;[Table of Contents]
<ul>
<li><a href="#understandingpasswordencryption" rel="follow">Understanding Password Encryption</a></li>
<li><a href="#howdoespasswordencryptionwork" rel="follow">How Does Password Encryption Work?</a></li>
<li><a href="#5commonpasswordencryptionmethods" rel="follow">5 Common Password Encryption Methods</a></li>
<li><a href="#whystrongpasswordsmatter" rel="follow">Why Strong Passwords Matter</a></li>
</ul>
<h2 id="understandingpasswordencryption">Understanding Password Encryption</h2>
To explain password encryption effectively, we must first grasp the language. Several terms might be unfamiliar, so here is a quick intro to password encryption terminology.
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Key: Used to lock and unlock passwords using a random string of bits. You get private and public keys that crypt and decrypt data differently, but we won't get too deep in the weeds with keys!</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Bits: A logical state with one of two possible values, including 1/0, true/false, yes/no, or on/off as typical examples.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Block (block cipher): A deterministic algorithm operating on fixed-length groups of bits, called blocks.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Hash function: The algorithm that uses the key to create password encryption and decryption. A hash function is essentially a piece of code that runs every time someone saves a password or logs into an application.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Hash: A random series of numbers and letters representing your password. The hash function uses your hash instead of the raw password for authentication.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Salt: Additional letters and numbers appended to the hash</li>
</ul>
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2 id="howdoespasswordencryptionwork">How Does Password Encryption Work?</h2>
When you save a new password, a hash function creates a hash version and saves that on the server.&nbsp;
Every time you log in using your password, the hash function recreates the hash to see if it matches what's stored. If the hashes match, the algorithm passes the authentication and logs you in.&nbsp;
For example:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Original password: Pa$$w0rd123</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Hashed password: 6AF1CE202340​FE71BDB914AD5357​E33A6982A63B</li>
</ul>
While this might seem secure, simple hashed passwords aren't hack-proof.
The hash function only creates a unique hash for each password, not each user. So, if multiple users have the password, Pa$$w0rd123, the hash will be exactly the same.
To overcome this encryption vulnerability, engineers salt passwords so each hash is unique, even if the passwords are identical.
<h3>How Salt Works</h3>
A salt appends a unique value of 8 bytes (16 characters) to the password before the hash function creates a hash. This way, even identical passwords are unique before the hash function.
For example:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Two identical passwords: Pa$$w0rd123</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Salt value one: E1F53135E559C253</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Salt value two: 84B03D034B409D4E</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Password one before hash: Pa$$w0rd123E1F53135E559C253</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Password two before hash: Pa$$w0rd12384B03D034B409D4E</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Password one hashed value (SHA256): 72AE25495A7981​C40622D49F9A52E4F15​65C90F048F59027BD9​C8C8900D5C3D8</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Password two hashed value (SHA256): B4B6603ABC670​967E99C7E7F1389E40​CD16E78AD38EB1468E​C2AA1E62B8BED3A</li>
</ul>
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2 id="5commonpasswordencryptionmethods">5 Common Password Encryption Methods</h2>
<h3>1. Data Encryption Standard (DES)</h3>
While applications no longer use Data Encryption Standard (DES), it's important to mention this password encryption method because of its history and influence on more secure modern standards.
IBM developed DES as a 56-bit encryption technology in the early 1970s. The NSA adopted and improved DES before it was approved worldwide as the encryption standard.
However, since the late 70s, hackers have been able to break DES encrypted passwords. In 1999, ethical hackers managed to break a DES key in under 24 hours.&nbsp;
To make DES more secure, engineers created Triple DES and later Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), which we still use today.
<h3>2. Triple DES</h3>
Triple DES uses three 56-bit keys (blocks) to create 168-bit encryption (some security experts argue that Triple DES is only 112 bits strong). Although Triple-DES is slowly being phased out, many financial institutions still use it to encrypt ATM PINs.
<h3>3. Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)</h3>
AES is the new encryption standard&mdash;trusted by the United States Government and many other prominent organizations globally. At 128 bits, AES is sufficiently secure, but most organizations prefer heavy-duty 256-bit encryption.
At <a href="https://teampassword.com/security">TeamPassword</a>, we use 256-bit encryption to store passwords, ensuring the highest levels of security for our clients. We're also a <a href="https://teampassword.com/security">secure hosting provider</a> holding multiple security accreditations.
Hackers can only break an AES encrypted password through a brute-force attack&mdash;trying password combinations to find the right one.
To counter brute-force attacks, applications will lock an account after a certain number of attempts or use tools like Google's reCAPTURE.
<h3>4. Blowfish</h3>
American cryptographer, Bruce Schneier, designed Blowfish in 1993 as an antidote to the weak DES encryption. Blowfish uses a 64-bit block and variable key length of 32 to 448 bits.
Although Blowfish is more robust than its DES predecessor, the 64-bit block is still vulnerable to attacks, most commonly birthday attacks&mdash;a cryptographic attack that exploits the mathematics behind the algorithm.
To solve Blowfish vulnerabilities, engineers created Twofish in 1998 (128-bit blocks with 256-bit keys) and Threefish in 2008 (256, 516, 1024-bit blocks with 256, 516, 1024-bit keys).
<h3>5. Rivest-Shamir-Adleman (RSA)</h3>
RSA is one of the oldest and widely used to transfer data securely. The encryption works with two keys, two large prime numbers, and an additional auxiliary value.
Due to the complicated encrypting and decrypting process, there is no known method for breaking RSA encryption.&nbsp;
Although widely used for transferring data, RSA is slow and not suitable for password encryption.
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2 id="whystrongpasswordsmatter">Why Strong Passwords Matter</h2>
Password encryption can only prevent criminals from viewing saved credentials stored on a server&mdash;but cannot prevent hackers from guessing weak/commonly used passwords. If you <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/colonial-pipeline-ransomware-attack-dont-reuse-passwords">reuse the same password for multiple accounts</a>, this also puts you at risk!
Encryption is most effective when users create robust, unique passwords for every account. For example, a random 32-character password with letters, numbers, and special characters hashed and salted is near impossible to guess or decode, even using a computer!
In another scenario, let's assume you have a strong 32-character password, but you use it for every account. If hackers manage to steal that password, they have access to every account using the same credentials! Your strong password is effectively useless.
<h3>Improving Your Password Management</h3>
Now that you understand password encryption and the associated vulnerabilities, you can see why strong passwords are essential.
Effective password management is crucial to protect yourself against cyberattacks or in the highly likely event of a data breach where hackers steal your credentials.
Criminals are after the low-hanging fruit&mdash;people who use weak passwords!
5 tips for creating stronger passwords:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Create strong passwords for every account. The easiest way to do this is using a password generator. <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">TeamPassword has a free password generator</a> anyone can use to create passwords from 12-32 characters using uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and special characters. We recommend creating passwords as long as the application will allow.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Never create passwords shorter than eight characters, with 12 being our recommended minimum.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Never reuse the same password for multiple accounts.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Never create passwords with your name, family member's names, or pet's names. With social media, this information is freely available. Criminals can add those names to algorithms for brute-force attacks.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Don't store passwords in digital notepads or spreadsheets. We recommend using a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager like TeamPassword</a> to create and store your credentials.</li>
</ol>
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<h2>Why You Need a Password Manager like TeamPassword</h2>
We have so many accounts these days; it's almost impossible to create unique, memorable, secure passwords for each one. A password manager solves this problem.
Instead of remembering the credentials for every account, you only need to memorize the one to log into your password manager.&nbsp;
TeamPassword keeps all of your credentials safely stored and encrypted, so you never have to memorize a password again. Instead of entering your credentials, you use one of TeamPassword's browser extensions (Chrome, Firefox, and Safari) to log into accounts.
<h3>Built for Teams</h3>
TeamPassword's best feature is its ability to share credentials with team members securely. Instead of sharing passwords, you provide access through TeamPassword.&nbsp;
Employees <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">use TeamPassword</a> to log in, meaning you never share raw passwords&mdash;no more worrying about unauthorized access or sharing.
You can create groups in TeamPassword to share access with employees, clients, contractors, and freelancers. When someone no longer needs access, remove them from the group with a single click. No need to change passwords every time someone leaves a project!
<h3>Built-In Password Generator</h3>
TeamPassword features a built-in secure password manager so you can create robust passwords for every account. TeamPassword also ensures you never reuse the same credentials so that you won't fall victim to credential stuffing attacks!
With a built-in password generator, you can change passwords regularly, and TeamPassword will update the new credentials for all users!
<h3>Monitor Login Activity</h3>
TeamPassword's activity log keeps track of every action across all of your accounts&mdash;logins, password changes, new team members, sharing access, and more.
You can also set up email notifications for all TeamPassword actions so that you can react fast to any suspicious activity.
<h3>Get Your Free TeamPassword Trial</h3>
Password encryption is not enough to protect your business from password vulnerabilities! You need a robust password manager like TeamPassword to create, store, and share credentials securely.
&rlm;&rlm;&lrm; &lrm;
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> and let TeamPassword secure your company's digital assets.

Password encryption is the number one component of password security. TeamPassword encrypts passwords with state-of-the-art technology to keep passwords safe.

Password encryption is the number one component of password security. TeamPassword encrypts passwords with state-of-the-art technology to keep ...

What is password encryption and how much is enough?

What is password encryption and how does it work?

The technological era has brought numerous benefits to many businesses. Some areas that rely on technical solutions today include communications, product design, logistics, financial services, and marketing.

But while the use of technology has increased drastically over the last few decades, so has the threat of cyber attacks.&nbsp;

As more businesses become aware of different tactics and cyber security measures improve, hackers create increasingly advanced attacks that threaten company data more than ever.

In fact, <a href="https://www.cyberark.com/resources/blog/cybersecurity-predictions-for-2024-and-beyond%20of%20all%20cyberattacks.">CyberArk research</a> predicts that session hijacking will account for 40% of all cyberattacks in 2024, while 30% of organizations will see an increase in data breaches linked to credential theft.

Why does this matter? Businesses face costly shutdowns if they&rsquo;re victims of an attack, not to mention potential compensatory damages or fines. While software solutions are available, having a fully comprehensive strategy is more effective.

But cybercriminals show no signs of slowing down in 2024. And with the popularity of new tools like AI, a rise in the use of the Internet of Things, and cyberattacks becoming increasingly sophisticated, there has never been a more crucial time to create a cybersecurity policy.&nbsp;

Don&rsquo;t know where to start? Our guide will help you create a robust policy to protect your business, employees, and customers.
[Table of Contents]
<ul>
<li><a href="#whatis" rel="follow">What is a cybersecurity policy?</a></li>
<li><a href="#whyneedpolicy" rel="follow">Why do businesses need a cybersecurity policy</a></li>
<li><a href="#typesof" rel="follow">Types of cybersecurity policies</a></li>
<li><a href="#howtocreate" rel="follow">How to create a cybersecurity policy</a></li>
<li><a href="#putintopractice" rel="follow">How to put your policy into practice</a></li>
</ul>
<h2 id="whatis">What is a cybersecurity policy?</h2>

A cybersecurity policy defines the IT systems and data assets that your business wants to protect. It also identifies the type of threats that could occur and how to respond to them.&nbsp;

<img height="311" width="553" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/o_62YzGMaJRJR3-ShgVmOIZzkzfmp8l_22G2xnqC1uF_AmBttTNL1kavU2pGhL41jd0W9JP9ZQjOwJduF9yoQkeVTi3m0ulHI7noEx69vnr2kCtCtJ7I9YIG_smHmVKWU2ERftgGHXxJscPd3S1EIek">
Free to use image sourced from Unsplash

The policy aims to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the company&rsquo;s data. This applies to all business areas, from password-protected databases to ensuring encryption for your <a href="https://www.dialpad.com/products/cloud-phone-system/">cloud phone system features</a>.

The policy outlines the key responsibilities of everyone within the organization and how they should protect data and avoid breaches.
<h2 id="whyneedpolicy">Why do businesses need a cybersecurity policy?</h2>

A cybersecurity policy is an essential part of running a modern company, whether a <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/small-business-cybersecurity-checklist">small business</a> or a large one. Here are a few reasons why.
<ol>
<li>
<h3 role="presentation">Protect your organization&rsquo;s reputation</h3>
</li>
</ol>

Exposing your business to a data breach and then failing to respond effectively will lead to a lack of trust among customers and staff. It also makes it harder to attract new customers and employees who don&rsquo;t believe you take data privacy seriously.

A robust cybersecurity policy reduces the risk of a data breach and gives you a clear path for managing cyber threats if you do fall victim to attack. This, then, increases customer and employee faith in your company.
<ol start="2">
<li>
<h3 role="presentation">Reduce chances of a shutdown&nbsp;</h3>
</li>
</ol>
A cyber attack can be devastating for a business. Having to shut down operations is a financial strain not all companies can afford to face. The standards set out in the policy ensure that employees understand their roles and how to prevent attacks. Reducing the likelihood of an attack ensures business continuity.
<ol start="3">
<li>
<h3 role="presentation">Ensure legal compliance</h3>
</li>
</ol>
As a response to increased threats, more laws are coming into effect. Legislation covering data protection is becoming stricter, and you must take the necessary steps to protect personal data. Failure to have appropriate protective measures can lead to hefty penalties and fines. A thorough cybersecurity policy should take into account up-to-date laws and regulations.
<h2 id="typesof">3 types of cybersecurity policies</h2>

Cybersecurity policies depend on the organization&rsquo;s needs and, as such, have different objectives and areas of focus. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, but cybersecurity policies generally fall into the following three categories.
<ol>
<li>
<h3 role="presentation">Program or master policy</h3>
</li>
</ol>
This blueprint for the entire organization clearly states objectives and execution procedures to protect digital assets against an attack. These policies are written at a high level and consider future threats, which means they can be updated less frequently. A program policy takes into account the following:
<ul>
<li>
Software updates and upgrades (including anti-virus and security updates)
</li>
<li>
Data backup
</li>
<li>
Malware threats
</li>
<li>
Disaster response and recovery plans
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://teampassword.com/features">Password management</a>&nbsp;
</li>
</ul>
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/1SktXwyRiKLMXnt7FNQN" alt="undefined" width="531" height="309">
TeamPassword's intuitive user-interface
<ol start="2">
<li>
<h3 role="presentation">Issue-specific policy</h3>
</li>
</ol>
As the name suggests, an issue-specific policy provides a more in-depth exploration of specific issues and threats. In practice, this could include specific security policies for networks, <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/byod-policies-cybersecurity-risks">personal devices</a>, or remote access. A remote access policy, for example, might specify that employees use a remote access VPN.

<ol start="3">
<li>
<h3 role="presentation">System-specific policy</h3>
</li>
</ol>
You would write this type of policy for a specific system, such as a piece of equipment, <a href="https://www.dialpad.com/glossary/virtual-pbx/">virtual PBX software</a>, database, firewall, or web server. System-specific policies often relate to critical people who operate the systems, with IT and security personnel giving their input to design them.

<h2 id="howtocreate">How to create a cybersecurity policy for your company</h2>
It&rsquo;s one thing to understand what a cybersecurity policy is. It&rsquo;s another to create one. Here are a few essential things to factor into your policy.
<ol>
<li>
<h3 role="presentation">Define the purpose and objectives</h3>
</li>
</ol>
Having a clear reason and set of objectives before creating a cybersecurity policy helps ensure you make one with all the correct elements. The policy should cover realistic actions that employees will understand. Having a clear mission statement can help clarify why the policy is so important to everyone in the organization.

<img height="439" width="585" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/YGbKav8FfAUfkM-FLz7IjLYBoky0xaY9Xr3HQogycarOa1hU7Cx14L0ntMKKQC5XcYnOA4C0ealrVopV3kp9jF2dZaRv2khlT2xRqEOnNIFi-pT2kRkmI0WV-EO-W4EDa8SXIIfzTduw0BLiEOD1lxA">
Free to use image sourced from Unsplash
<ol start="2">
<li>
<h3 role="presentation">Identify risks and threats</h3>
</li>
</ol>
These may differ for each business, so it&rsquo;s important to consider where your company&rsquo;s vulnerabilities lie. This may involve conducting a thorough assessment of the business&rsquo;s digital assets. Some key questions to answer as part of a review or assessment include:
<ul>
<li>
What threats are common in my industry?
</li>
<li>
What threats could have a damaging impact on my business?
</li>
<li>
What channels are attackers likely to use?
</li>
<li>
Who is the policy for?
</li>
<li>
How does it tie into our core business objectives?
</li>
</ul>

The answers to these questions will provide a framework for your cybersecurity policy.

<ol start="3">
<li>
<h3 role="presentation">Set realistic and enforceable goals</h3>
</li>
</ol>
Any goals should be realistic for your workforce to keep on top of, and any actions should be feasible. So, consider the systems that need protecting, your budget, and your available staff. Overloading employees with unnecessary tasks can affect performance, so a staged approach to implementing cybersecurity policies is worth considering.

For the policy to be successful, it must be enforceable. If not, it&rsquo;s a waste of time. Linking it to your disciplinary policy may help, given the severity of the consequences.

<ol start="4">
<li>
<h3 role="presentation">Ditch the jargon</h3>
</li>
</ol>
Most people who need to understand cybersecurity policies won&rsquo;t be technical professionals. For that reason, it&rsquo;s crucial to use clear language and avoid technical terms or acronyms that may not be familiar to the majority of employees.&nbsp;

Doing this means all teams and departments will understand the policy. Clearly communicating with employees helps create a <a href="https://showmypc.com/blog/Creating-a-Strong-Cybersecurity-Culture">cybersecurity culture</a> throughout the entire organization, which will go a long way in protecting the business from advanced threats.

<img height="331" width="496" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/ZgAaiVharrieD0MbKStUoHTQ4xs46ohkw6XBuLLejI8qC7NzJxkA6tEBv4UU2-CJdxfupHtsxpaxBO7WToyRKbd2aZePZaFFH3BI_LBApeDlBYuF4AO96Rvz5nxvnc7G1w6xF_kNswgCQu2QigYNxS8">
Free to use image sourced from Unsplash
<ol start="5">
<li>
<h3 role="presentation">Align with internal and external compliance requirements</h3>
</li>
</ol>
One essential objective of the policy should be to act in line with your <a href="https://www.databricks.com/discover/data-governance">data governance security</a> approach as well as external regulations. On top of data protection rules, there are industry-specific ones you must comply with. It&rsquo;s important to know what these are and act accordingly.

As we mentioned earlier, legislation changes regularly. Stay on top of any changes relevant to your industry, business, and customers, regularly review your policy to ensure it&rsquo;s up-to-date, and keep staff well-informed.

<ol start="6">
<li>
<h3 role="presentation">Have a customer response plan</h3>
</li>
</ol>
In the event of a security breach, your customers will likely have concerns. Naturally, they&rsquo;ll want to know which of their personal details were exposed.&nbsp;

With this in mind, you must plan how you&rsquo;ll respond. What information will you share with customers? How will you resolve the issue? How will you inform customers of a breach and share the relevant information?&nbsp;

As well as having an emergency call center, businesses can utilize <a href="https://www.dialpad.com/blog/ai-virtual-assistant/">AI virtual assistant technology</a> to keep customers informed. You can train these to provide automated answers to common customer questions about the breach and provide general information that might impact your customers moving forward.
<h2 id="putintopractice">How to put your policy into practice</h2>

Once you have a cyber security plan, it&rsquo;s time to put it into practice. This involves several key steps.

<h3>Test your approach</h3>
Why wait for a real attack to see if your policy works? Simulated testing can highlight weaknesses in your digital infrastructure so you can fix any issues before a hacker finds them. Testing also puts employees&rsquo; skills into practice and ensures everyone knows what to do in the event of a real data breach.

<h3>Train staff</h3>
Once the policy is ready, it&rsquo;s important to offer staff training. Employees should be clear on what information can be shared and what can&rsquo;t as well as how to handle sensitive data and confidential assets. They should also know what counts as acceptable use for online access and personal devices.&nbsp;

<img height="402" width="603" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/tdIuLQ9dRWJgl1VZA0F_84wPTSKk9bPrLGq3RGNp5MiyP0kteR2_V-N8wuQL1EtRRW--cYSg-8wAgf9tlswKWGrtBHAO8jQyOYbf7vIrzaYxMR9pfqCcklHypRcv47jt1kjoHT5LqfF_9clWLPVhPgE">
Free to use image sourced from Unsplash
<h3>Update your policy regularly</h3>
As cyberattacks become more sophisticated, it&rsquo;s crucial to keep ahead of the game by identifying potential threats and updating the policy regularly. Senior leaders, IT experts, and relevant department leaders should work together to keep the cybersecurity policy up-to-date. It&rsquo;s not just the threats that change; updating software or even buying a new <a href="https://www.onlydomains.com/domain-names">domain name</a> can be enough to prompt a security review.

<h2>Final thoughts</h2>
A cybersecurity policy is essential for any modern business, particularly as cyber attacks advance in 2024.&nbsp;

Regardless of your company size, location, or sector, there&rsquo;s a chance you could have security vulnerabilities. By taking reasonable measures, highlighting threats, and training staff, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of a data breach or reduce the impact if you do have one.&nbsp;

A cybersecurity policy should take a whole business approach. Everyone from senior management to employees on the shop floor should be onboard in sharing the importance of protecting business assets. Creating a culture of cybersecurity comes from communication and training. If you get it right, it will be one of the best weapons for protecting your business.

As with most things, preparation is better than the cure.

Cyberattacks are becoming more sophisticated. Here’s how to protect your business and customers with a robust cybersecurity policy.

With cyberattacks predicted to become more sophisticated in 2024, here’s how to protect your business and customers with ...

How to Create a Company Cybersecurity Policy in 2024

With cyberattacks predicted to become more sophisticated in 2024, here’s how to protect your business and customers with a robust cybersecurity policy.

How to Create a Company Cybersecurity Policy [in 2024]

We often focus on external cyber threats, but what about threats from within?

With <a href="https://surfshark.com/blog/data-breach-statistics-2022-q3">108.9 million</a> accounts reportedly breached in Q3 2022 alone, mitigating the risk of a data breach should be high on any business owner's agenda. But with the increase in remote work, it&rsquo;s harder than ever before to keep an eye on internal threats.

In this article, we&rsquo;ll look at what insider threats are, how to spot them, and crucial steps to prevent them.

[Table of Contents]
<ul>
<li>
<a href="#whatare" rel="follow">What are insider threats?</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="#howto" rel="follow">How to detect existing insider threats</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="#preventby" rel="follow">Five ways to prevent insider threats</a>
</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="whatare">What are insider threats?</h2>
An insider threat refers to a security risk caused by any individual, third-party, or entity that has access to confidential data, files and applications. This could be through a back door in a <a href="https://www.dialpad.com/products/virtual-call-center/">virtual call center platform</a>, clever social engineering, or simply weak passwords.

These threats are growing increasingly common - sometimes, they&rsquo;re an accident or the actions of a disgruntled individual. However, they can also be part of a larger scheme where outside parties target and approach your staff.

<img height="393" width="624" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/qcBte0DJWzJ63D0YdaALOs1sASWutaUdp_F--P_YsMgwivgzhCp7CSrr-WtQH-JXytFjcYm_7Pi5kZ3HhMm02yN9h0RYw1am4pMb0S8URXoM95t9UigwJcBBbb-2BK-jl7lGvaUjpS-6YJG0_VEUqpI"> <a href="https://www.hitachi-id.com/hubfs/Hitachi_ID_Resources/Marketing_Content_Library/Infographics/Infographic__Employees_Have_Been_Approached_to_Assist_in_Ransomware_Attacks_2021_10_23.pdf">Image</a> from Bravura Security&rsquo;s report

<h3>What are the Types of Insider Threats?</h3>
In general, we can classify most insider threats into three categories.
<ol>
<li>
<h3 role="presentation">Malicious insider threats</h3>
</li>
</ol>
Some bad actors may be current or former employees, third parties, or partners. These criminal and malicious insiders use their privileged access to intentionally steal company data or intellectual property for revenge, fraud, blackmail, sabotage, and even espionage.

One such threat is departing employees stealing trade secrets. This is a tricky one to monitor, with even computer security software giant McAfee filing a lawsuit against three ex-employees who had moved confidential data like customer lists, sales tactics, and pricing data to unauthorized USBs and email addresses.
<ol start="2">
<li>
<h3 role="presentation">Negligent insider threats</h3>
</li>
</ol>
Employees who lack cybersecurity awareness are often the source of negligent insider threats due to carelessness or inexperience.

A small-scale example of a negligent insider is when an employee breaches cybersecurity protocols by leaving their computer unlocked in a busy office environment. At the other end of the scale, Pegasus Airline reported in 2022 that a misconfigured database accidentally exposed 23 million sensitive files - including insurance documents and plain-text password information.

Read more: <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/what-is-password-encryption-and-how-much-is-enough">What is password encryption and how does it work?</a>
<ol start="3">
<li>
<h3 role="presentation">Accidental insider threats</h3>
</li>
</ol>
Although most accidents contain a degree of negligence, accidental insider threats are usually oblivious that they've been compromised in the first place.

An example of an unintentional threat is an <a href="https://www.realvnc.com/en/discover/remote-support/">online remote support</a> agent mistyping an email address and sending confidential business secrets to a competitor. They might not even notice this event has occurred until the competitor acts. This is an unfortunate, unintentional accident - but a threat, nonetheless.

<img height="293" width="440" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/C9Cq_3iM5Vfla4BuBFuQ9JlRc7F-HtwDMqcTOeL7qle94rurtkSRAn3Ri7ZEs-jbHZD_szgJ-6FYVRxsJ-rxHTm3PIHhLzwVV47-2fwj-36kmUhR-WTrHniZLP-mWGy0naSdkwNyM53RdNGoIWKS_fk">
Free to use image from Unsplash
<h2 id="howto">How to detect existing insider threats</h2>
Insider threats are increasingly difficult to detect because they have legitimate access to the system and data. As they say, prevention is better than cure. But what if you have potential threats within your business? Here are three ways to spot any existing risks:
<ol>
<li>
<h3 role="presentation">Audit, Audit, Audit!</h3>
</li>
</ol>
An effective insider threat security audit should pinpoint any vulnerabilities, close any backdoors, and eliminate any flaws in the system.

To get the most from your security audit checklist, the following points should be considered: 
<ul>
<li>
Company security policies
</li>
<li>
Security policy training&nbsp;
</li>
<li>
Computer software and hardware asset lists
</li>
<li>
Password training and implementation
</li>
<li>
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) plans.
</li>
<li>
Automated software patch management
</li>
</ul>

Auditing these aspects of your business should highlight any areas that might be at risk and let you make changes before they become a threat. For instance, your BYOD policy might have no restrictions on how data can be downloaded. This means that if someone did download confidential data, they could easily share it - and you may have no way of tracking it. To counter this, you could make data accessible only through authorized apps, with no option to download the data.

Read more: <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/what-is-a-security-audit-and-does-my-business-need-one">What is a Security Audit and Does My Business Need One?</a>
<ol start="2">
<li>
<h3 role="presentation">Review how you organize your data</h3>
</li>
</ol>
Data is valuable, and that&rsquo;s why it&rsquo;s usually the target of insider threats. You should review how data is accessed in your audit, but it&rsquo;s worth going beyond that. Access policies can help minimize risk, but you're still open to potential breaches without a strong data quality management framework in place.

Take stock of your existing storage system, any data-related processes, and what exactly you collect. Is there sensitive data being gathered that you don&rsquo;t strictly need? Remove it, and you remove one area of interest to malicious actors. Is your data stored on-site? Consider moving it to a secure cloud solution to reduce physical threats.&nbsp;
<ol start="3">
<li>
<h3 role="presentation">User behavior and activity monitoring software</h3>
</li>
</ol>
User behavior analytics (UBA) are used to gather valuable observations on how users are behaving. It&rsquo;s often used alongside user activity monitoring (UAM), which gives you insights into what websites are being accessed, among other things.

If you have this in place, you will be able to see any staff that could be a threat - and again, this doesn&rsquo;t have to be malicious. It could be entirely accidental. So, if you notice a particular user keeps mistyping your <a href="https://www.onlydomains.com/domains/New-Zealand/.co.nz">.NZ domain from Only Domains</a>, and doesn&rsquo;t notice when it takes them to the wrong place, you can intervene with targeted training before it becomes a problem.

<img height="285" width="427" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/uQ1iuyrw1WWZ8WCek9bgUcdeQ-CHBZPfH0YYvBRQyLdeRnluEutCxnQEQdXaol_kzM5kmHyd1f2qLw3dbp_-le-wbL_YVIdT2iYoxO2IrmRnRBdw7rPI0vfU0rPXaygeYbpbxU96hZU__RZ5SgVivd0">
Free to use image from Unsplash
<h2 id="preventby">Five ways to prevent insider threats</h2>
We&rsquo;ve spoken about how to address existing risks, but how do you prevent future ones? Here are five important steps to consider.
<ol>
<li>
<h3 role="presentation">Develop security policies</h3>
</li>
</ol>
Developing a robust security policy for insider threats is essential for protecting all sensitive data and company assets. This should cover everything from your public websites to your intranet and CRM tools.&nbsp;

They should be broad and encompass areas like:
<ul>
<li>
Password requirements
</li>
<li>
BYOD and other hardware restrictions
</li>
<li>
Data management
</li>
<li>
Acceptable use&nbsp;
</li>
<li>
Remote access&nbsp;
</li>
<li>
Permission-based access
</li>
</ul>

Ideally, you should work with security specialists to design these policies, which may include bringing in external consultants. This should also not be treated as a &lsquo;one-off&rsquo; - instead, this should be an ever-evolving document that changes in response to new software and the most up-to-date cybersecurity trends.
<h3>2. Company-wide training</h3>
Knowledge is power, especially in the complex world of <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/how-to-talk-to-remote-employees-about-cybersecurity">cybersecurity</a>. Every employee in your business, not just your IT staff, should be provided with training about insider threats (and cybersecurity more broadly).&nbsp;

This is one of the best ways to combat threats caused by negligence or by accident. As well as providing company-wide training, it&rsquo;s worth running smaller, targeted sessions based on particular needs as well. For instance, do your sales department regularly take down personal details from your customers? Then they should be trained in data privacy methods.
<h3>3. Password rules and restrictions</h3>
Ultimately, passwords are the first line of defense against potential insider threats. So, establishing a strong password culture within your team will help keep them at bay. Make sure that your staff aren&rsquo;t reusing passwords across multiple apps and sites, and provide details on what makes a strong password.

The safest and easiest way to manage your company's passwords is by using a password manager, like <a href="https://teampassword.com/" rel="follow">TeamPassword</a>. Password managers provide an encrypted environment where your employees can create, store, and share login details and other sensitive records.

This should also factor into your software purchases. For instance, the <a href="https://www.dialpad.com/blog/contact-center-software">best contact center software</a> should include two-factor or multi-factor password authentication to remain secure - and if it doesn&rsquo;t, you should avoid it! Ensuring the tools you provide have strong password protection and encryption protect your employees, and in some instances, can even make their jobs easier.&nbsp;

<img height="340" width="418" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/IUQcMsO8VybHauf2jHuac6UUfUcs755Q91F69_urdyXIKi_t5Z4nYbytUFLYqUmtQuPL6pqEk0r4lyKRsAK524R4t_V8lBJSZNsJjkQjPbSKuuqIYes0q98qvWxnK2BjcsmkWf_FAC5_kF70jr5QpMs">
<a href="https://xkcd.com/936">Image</a> from XKCD
<h3>4. Clear employee exit strategy</h3>
Having solid strategies in place for departing employees is just as important as having an onboarding process. Not only does it allow you to gather feedback through exit interviews, it also gives you the chance to reduce potential threats.&nbsp;

Some methods that you can use during offboarding include:
<ul>
<li>
Immediately delete account access after their departure
</li>
<li>
Deactivate mobile app access from personal devices
</li>
<li>
Inform relevant parties about the departure
</li>
<li>
Change shared login details
</li>
</ul>

This is particularly important in cases where an employee has been fired or let go - but it should be applied across the board.
<h3>5. Physical security methods</h3>
If all else fails, regularly backing up your data means you won't lose any important information, even if your systems are compromised. Most tools, such as <a href="https://www.dialpad.com/glossary/outbound-call-center/">outbound call center software</a> or data analysis platforms, come with cloud storage options, and it&rsquo;s worth making use of them.

However, not everything can be kept in the cloud - staff might have laptops with confidential data on them, or you might have some new product prototypes in the office. It&rsquo;s important to factor in physical threats just as much as digital ones.

Restrict access to your office via keycards or codes, and provide members of staff with safe places to store technology if needed. It&rsquo;s important to include this aspect in your training too - people tend to be nice and might be inclined to hold a door open to a visitor. This kind of &lsquo;social engineering&rsquo; can be used to gain access to off-limits areas.&nbsp;
<h2>What now&hellip;?</h2>
Early threat detection and mitigation is essential for your organization's survival and future success.

Providing employees, stakeholders, and board members with the right knowledge to detect and protect against insider security breaches can help shore up your defenses. Take the time to create clear security policies and design a clear offboarding process. Just remember: insider threats are always evolving, and you should too.

What are insider threats, and why are they dangerous? Learn what they are, how to detect them, and crucial steps to prevent them right here.

What are insider threats, and why are they dangerous? Learn what they are, how to detect them, and ...

How to Prevent Insider Threats Within Your Organization

Thwart Man-in-the-middle attacks with our comprehensive guide. We define common types of MITM attacks and provide actionable steps for prevention.

Man-in-the-middle attacks (MITM) are one of the most common and dangerous cyberattacks that can compromise your online security ...

How to Prevent Man-in-the-middle Attacks

Man-in-the-middle attacks (MITM) are one of the most common and dangerous cyberattacks that can compromise your online security and privacy. According to a report by IBM, MITM attacks accounted for 35% of all cyberattacks in 2019, and they can cause significant financial and reputational damage to both individuals and organizations. ...

How to Prevent Man-in-the-middle Attacks - 5 Steps

<h1>Smishing: What you need to know to keep yourself safe in 2024</h1>
About 400 million spam SMS messages are sent everyday in America alone. Most of them include malicious links to spoofed homepages designed to steal your sensitive information, such as bank details or your work email password. This is what is meant by smishing, and a single successful SMS scam has the potential to cost your business millions.&nbsp;
Here&rsquo;s what you need to know to protect yourself from smishing attacks.
TeamPassword makes it easy to keep your accounts safe from cybercriminals. Don&rsquo;t believe us? Sign up for a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">14-day free trial today</a> and try for yourself.

[Table of Contents]
<ul>
<li><a href="#whatis" rel="follow">What is smishing?</a></li>
<li><a href="#statistics" rel="follow">Smishing statistics</a></li>
<li><a href="#tactics" rel="follow">Smishing tactics</a></li>
<li><a href="#examples" rel="follow">Smishing examples</a></li>
<li><a href="#prevent" rel="follow">How do you prevent smishing attacks?</a></li>
</ul>

<h2 id="whatis">What is smishing?&nbsp;</h2>
Here is a simple definition of smishing:
Smishing definition: Smishing, for SMS + phishing, is a cybersecurity attack that uses text messages to send malicious links to individuals in hopes of obtaining their sensitive information.
Simply put, smishing is the latest version of phishing. As a refresher, here&rsquo;s the progression in cyberattack attack vectors from email through phone calls and now text messages:
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/spear-phishing">Phishing</a> uses emails to guide people towards spoofed homepages to steal data.
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/vishing">Vishing</a>, for voice + phishing, uses the phone with a similar goal in mind&mdash;to get the person to divulge personal or corporate information that can be used in further cyberattacks.
</li>
<li>
Smishing is the latest evolution and takes advantage of the poor spam protection in place for SMS messaging.
</li>
</ul>

<h2 id="statistics">Smishing statistics&nbsp;</h2>
According to <a href="https://www.robokiller.com/spam-text-insights">Robokiller</a>, over 19 billion spam SMS messages were sent in America in December 2023 alone, representing about 19 messages per person. Most of these are smishing scams. &nbsp;
To put that into perspective, that&rsquo;s approximately 3 billion SMS scam messages sent per week in 2023, over 400 million per day, and nearly 300,000 per minute.&nbsp;
The most affected states by volume are California, Texas, Georgia, Florida, and New York.
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/woRxuFEAQOCk8NNZKEcV" alt="undefined" width="500" height="333">
<h2></h2>
<h2 id="tactics">Smishing tactics</h2>
Just like phishing and vishing, smishing attacks typically attempt to either entice you to click a link with the promise of a reward or scare you into clicking with the warning of some major financial loss.&nbsp;
As shown with real-world smishing examples in the next section, two common types of rewards are packages that couldn&rsquo;t be delivered or cash that couldn&rsquo;t be transferred. It&rsquo;s easy to be fooled by these as the average family is ordering so much from Amazon that it can be hard to remember whether or not you are waiting on a delivery.&nbsp;
Likewise, digital cash apps have gone from niche business to the norm in the last five years, and they often provide little recourse if someone unwittingly transfers money as part of a scam.&nbsp;
On the other side, many smishing messages try to scare you into thinking an important account, usually a bank, streaming service, or telecom account, has been compromised and if you don&rsquo;t check now something bad could happen. The sad irony, of course, is that if you click on their dangerous link and fill in your account details on their spoofed homepage, your account will in fact soon be compromised.
<h2></h2>
<h2 id="examples">Smishing examples&nbsp;</h2>
To help prove the smishing stats above are accurate, here are some real world smishing examples from my iPhone over the last couple weeks. Note that I am in Canada, so while the particulars might be different (Canada Post not USPS, Rogers not AT&amp;T, INTERAC e-Transfer not Venmo, CRA not IRS, and CIBC not BOA), the strategies should be all too familiar. &nbsp;
These real-world smishing examples display both the &ldquo;reward&rdquo; and &ldquo;warning&rdquo; style of SMS scams.&nbsp;
<h3>Reward-style smishing examples</h3>
<img height="223" width="277" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/kz46pOhfIJpwAS4jTjdFb55_bi-biALW8dhc8QEvVGb78Tses0hKMwQebRIKMQGmcZBqYAbdka6M_5HJBbCGA8W4LhJseY0HloWhL51K_bbPH74Utn2H9HWjb05kSx41bNUyS8IVxhB2tvwUzW1fJk-1u569JVLOrDa4B1QD5-XX6lcaO0CN7pLpF6Xy7w" alt="Smishing text claiming to be Canada Post with a link to a spoofed Canada Post page.">

<img height="315" width="247" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/ieQ0D5N_4zmY0SrTViN7l2TfObS8cTFRo7CugUaqmdeauisL8-JpvUbHIQOMjvcnL0LCKMHpgT3jAjgogFEMBlOtKDQv2a1991DdZQ7a5PfIViQ_gImrSM192BZLDbZZnblbf3yjPu7CDC5MRyr6P5H7UYEyXrb0-jZ6U4OPWCpsw7yUc1AActH3vOjc4A" alt="Third-party delivery service SMS scam message saying you will not get your delivery without clicking the dangerous link.">

<img height="223" width="260" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/CszyGoEEbHshbavo56q2-sH-ylYsRVagphKg1-WZwYZh8Me_TfG7BqOd3F6zulXHgOZZ815VEJ2Kh9P3MG7DP-LUo7hsGMdBdrJkwt8_wr03UzqxdF4aqOFeh9yXFWcpz7z33VmlAoWuA_e51NNozeVVh63H7G78BgmAcGUzHCWawOdMUUrKvgiBbybkag" alt="Smishing text claiming to be for an INTERAC e-Transfer, hoping you&rsquo;ll compromise your banking details in exchange for $450 from Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).">
In these three examples, the smishing messages claim to be in possession of something that cannot be transferred without more information. Two are product deliveries which could not be safely dropped off at a house. They claim that, to get those deliveries, you must click the malicious links and provide further information.&nbsp;
In the third example, the scammers are claiming to be from Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), which is the equivalent to the IRS in America, which apparently owes the receiver $450 to be sent via INTERAC e-Transfer. To receive the funds, you will be asked to divulge your banking details.&nbsp;
<h3>Warning-style smishing examples</h3>
<img height="214" width="249" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/othoH8Hmkk-4ayxBPqm8P2_hyRHLh__RdqN1P_w21P80_odu8517hwO7P8qcAd0oH0o4sKaxA7gyNa761pMj2sfL0DiuYdw2FGNeAfUu69s-Ebe-6_BHKGnyOGaduFVeo6LHsbwUjw2efztY_bIWj1ALRFynRMbASC_MCpHNVAb_PA2j9tMv6XCIiPJnOw" alt="A smishing SMS message claiming to be Rogers with a warning that a payment could not be processed, which could lead to service interruptions within 24 hours.]">

<img height="220" width="262" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/6-XxrP3JGeSasj4H0fi5SJPXmYH0adk97jvukXMg8Ca3S7TjoiW-LyWRuqch5P0805ZGLRVOrh8txFF5WqrYyr46dGbnQXwDSWjmJAqcgT9Sr7_tuaT_kNY6Bb95KCxGcgO63ya3KPUd7IrWuyjrl9x1FYm9NHTAVGGHRia2S_3EiJRGIq56IX-POEfulA" alt="An SMS scam text claiming that your CIBC debit card has been locked due to unusual activity.">&nbsp;
Here are some common examples of scare tactics used in smishing campaigns. In the first example, the criminals claim to work for Rogers, which is a major Internet, cable TV, and mobile phone provider in Canada. While logically most people know they are too valuable as customers to lose service within 24 hours of a missed payment, this is a very common part of a smishing message.&nbsp;
That&rsquo;s because adding a ticking clock makes it more likely that someone will quickly click on the malicious link instead of double-checking their payment history on their banking app to see whether their last payment went through. &nbsp;
In the second case, the hackers are pretending to be a large bank in Canada (CIBC). If you don&rsquo;t know already, debit cards issued by the same bank have the same first four digits. This added detail makes the SMS message seem more legitimate to those who don&rsquo;t know that.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<h2 id="prevent">How do you prevent smishing attacks?&nbsp;</h2>
The sad truth is that governments seem unwilling to make strong laws against spam emails, phone calls, and text messages. Telecom companies are likewise unwilling to voluntarily take on the burden of protecting their clients from phishing, vishing, and smishing on their own. It&rsquo;s too expensive, difficult, and it would open them up to liability if they took on the responsibility.&nbsp;
That means it is up to individuals to keep themselves safe against the dozens of SMS scams they will encounter every month. The most important thing you can do is be vigilant. &nbsp;
When you receive a text message or email, assume any rewards are too good to be true. Conversely, if it&rsquo;s trying to scare you into an action, take a deep breath and know that nothing ever requires your immediate action.&nbsp;
Some smishing threats are easier to detect. For example, the IRS isn&rsquo;t going to make you pay a debt with Bitcoin or Apple Store gift cards. However, even the seemingly legitimate ones, such as the CIBC example above, have the telltale signs of scams. Look at the URL. That is not the real CIBC web address.&nbsp;
If you are unsure, close the text message and go to your banking app. If something does seem wrong, get on the phone and call the bank. (Use the phone number listed in the app and not one in the text message!)
Along with general training around being skeptical, businesses can equip their employees with the tools needed to enhance their cybersecurity. Foremost among these is a password manager that <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/strong-password-generator">generates and stores a unique, strong, and random password</a> for each account.&nbsp;

<h2>Use TeamPassword to prevent smishing attacks&nbsp;</h2>
TeamPassword stores all of your usernames and passwords securely. While the bogus web addresses could fool an employee who is distracted or not trained to look, it won&rsquo;t prompt your password manager to fill in your protected details.&nbsp;
Furthermore, by creating and securely storing unique, random, and strong passwords for each account, one mistake will never multiply to hackers having all of your credentials. Finally, having safe and easy ways to share accounts with coworkers means there is no need to ever share passwords through unsafe means, such as in a reply to a phishy text message.
TeamPassword can protect your important accounts from smishers. Don&rsquo;t believe us? <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial today</a> and try for yourself.

Smishing is the latest form of phishing. Scam SMS text messages are sent in hopes users will click on malicious links and then divulge data.

Smishing is the latest form of phishing. Scam SMS text messages are sent out in hopes users will ...

Smishing: What you need to know to keep yourself safe in 2024

Smishing is the latest form of phishing. Scam SMS text messages are sent out in hopes users will click on malicious links and then divulge sensitive data.

Image by Freepik
In an era where data is the lifeblood of businesses, securing your information on the cloud is non-negotiable. Even with the impeccable reputation of Microsoft Azure, understanding and implementing Azure security best practices is crucial. This guide aims to empower you with immediate steps to enhance your security while utilizing Microsoft Azure.

<ol>
<li>Key Takeaway: Azure offers a versatile set of services, including Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS).</li>
<li>Key Takeaway: Empower Your Security with RBAC, and use Azure's MFA features to get your team one step close to authentication best practices: something you know, something you have, and something you are.</li>
<li>Key Takeaway: Strengthen Passwords, provide a password manager so the burden isn't on your employees, and Leverage Azure Security Center.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
[Table of contents]
<ul>
<li><a href="#Whatismicrosoftazure" rel="follow">What is Microsoft Azure?</a></li>
<li><a href="#bestsecuritypractices" rel="follow">Best Security Practices for Microsoft Azure</a></li>
<li><a href="#teampasswordelevatesecurity" rel="follow">Elevate security with TeamPassword</a></li>
</ul>
<h2>What is Microsoft Azure?</h2>
Microsoft Azure, launched in 2010, has evolved into a robust cloud computing platform that offers a comprehensive suite of services. Its inception was a strategic move by Microsoft to compete in the growing cloud services market. Over the years, Azure has become a cornerstone for businesses seeking scalable and flexible cloud solutions.
Azure's journey began as a platform primarily focused on providing Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). It allowed organizations to virtualize their computing infrastructure, providing a cost-effective and flexible alternative to traditional on-premises solutions. As cloud computing gained momentum, Microsoft expanded Azure into a Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS) provider.
With continuous innovation and updates, Azure has positioned itself as a leading player in the cloud industry. Its global data centers, spanning multiple continents, ensure low-latency access and high availability for users across the globe. Microsoft's commitment to security, compliance, and interoperability has contributed to Azure's reputation as a reliable cloud service.
Azure's Data Storage Base is a key component, offering a variety of storage services to meet different business requirements.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>
Azure Blob Storage: Designed for storing massive amounts of unstructured data, Azure Blob Storage provides scalable and cost-effective object storage. It is ideal for scenarios such as backup, archiving, and serving large-scale static content.
</li>
<li>
Azure SQL Databases: For organizations requiring relational database management, Azure SQL Databases offer a fully managed and scalable solution. This service ensures high-performance, security, and reliability for applications relying on structured data.
</li>
<li>
Azure Cosmos DB: Geared towards globally distributed applications, Azure Cosmos DB is a multi-model, multi-API database service. It provides low-latency access to data on a global scale, making it suitable for scenarios where responsiveness and reliability are paramount.
</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="bestsecuritypractices">Best Security Practices for Microsoft Azure</h2>
In the expansive realm of Azure services, prioritizing security is not just a choice; it's a necessity. Let's delve into key practices that act as a fortress, strengthening the security of your Azure environment.
<h3>Utilize Role-Based Access Controls (RBAC)</h3>
In the dynamic landscape of cloud computing, granting access is a nuanced task. Utilizing Role-Based Access Controls (RBAC) is akin to handing out keys selectively in a secure facility. By assigning roles to users, organizations achieve precise control over who can access specific data and features. This separation of duties enhances security and streamlines workflows by limiting access to job-specific tasks.
As your organization evolves, RBAC allows adjustments to access levels as needed. Embrace the power of RBAC to ensure your Azure environment is safeguarded against unauthorized intrusions.
<h3>Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)</h3>
Relying solely on passwords is like leaving your front door unlocked. There's a door, and it's closed, but someone only has to go up and try the handle.
Implementing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), preferably of the "something you have" variety (software token, hardware key), gets you one step closer to the recommended trio of authentication steps: something you know, something you have, and something you are.
Emphasize the significance of MFA, especially on mobile devices where vulnerabilities can be exploited. This security measure requires users to provide multiple forms of identification, such as a password and a verification code, significantly reducing the risk of unauthorized access. Elevate your security posture by making MFA a non-negotiable aspect of your Azure environment.
Read more: <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/2fa-vs-mfa" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">2FA vs MFA: Are they the same?</a>
<h3>Use Strong Passwords</h3>
Azure handles SSO for many services, but passwords are still broadly used and needed, and they need to be strong.&nbsp;
The problem is that imposing requirements but leaving it up to the user to store/memorize the password, results in bad practices. Change it every 3 months? 'password1' becomes 'password2'. Special character and uppercase? Fine, I'll go with 'Password1!'. Has to be 12 characters? How about 'password1111'?&nbsp;
Password length and variety&nbsp;are cornerstones of secure passwords, but you need to provide a password manager so your employees aren't tempted to create weak, reused passwords.
Use a <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">password generator</a> for quick, secure passwords.&nbsp;
Most password managers have browser extensions that can easily autofill those complex passwords for you. Removing friction is key for your employees - especially those less tech-savvy - to use the software you provide for everyone's security.&nbsp;
For an in-depth guide, read our <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/ultimate-guide-to-password-security-teampassword" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Ultimate Guide to Password Security</a>
<h3>Leverage Azure Security Center</h3>
Azure Security Center stands as a comprehensive solution, acting as a sentinel for your security management. Its unified platform allows you to manage both Azure and non-Azure clouds efficiently, bringing simplicity to the complex realm of cloud security.
Capitalize on its robust threat detection capabilities, ensuring you are promptly notified of potential threats to your services and networks. Additionally, benefit from actionable insights provided by security recommendations, allowing you to stay one step ahead of potential security risks.
By adopting and integrating these best security practices into your Azure environment, you fortify your defenses against potential cyber threats and ensure a resilient security posture in the digital age.
<h2 id="teampasswordelevatesecurity">How TeamPassword Can Elevate Your Security</h2>
Passwords aren't disappearing anytime soon. SSO solutions and <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/passkey-technology" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">passkeys</a> continue to improve, but companies are slow to change, and passwords are easily implemented and familiar.&nbsp;
If you want your employees to use secure passwords, you need to provide them with the tools to do so. TeamPassword is a <a href="https://teampassword.com/security" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">secure</a>, <a href="https://teampassword.com/features" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">straightforward</a>, and cost-effective password manager for businesses.&nbsp;
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/signup" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Try it for free for 14 days</a> - no credit card required!&nbsp;

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Welcome to the world of passkey security, where the key to unlocking your digital fortress is simpler, yet more robust than ever. In this blog, we'll break down the basics of passkeys, explore how they work, and delve into their advantages and potential challenges.
[Table of Contents]
<ul>
<li data-gc-list-style="bullet" data-gc-list-depth="1"><a href="#understandingthebasics" rel="follow">Passkey Security: Understanding the Basics</a></li>
<li data-gc-list-style="bullet" data-gc-list-depth="1"><a href="#passkeysandmfa" rel="follow">Passkeys and MFA</a></li>
<li data-gc-list-style="bullet" data-gc-list-depth="1"><a href="#howdoespasskeysecuritywork" rel="follow">How Does Passkey Security Work?&nbsp;</a></li>
<li data-gc-list-style="bullet" data-gc-list-depth="1"><a href="#advantagesofpasskeysecurity" rel="follow">Advantages of Passkey Security</a></li>
<li data-gc-list-style="bullet" data-gc-list-depth="1"><a href="#bestpractices" rel="follow">Best Practices for Passkey Security</a></li>
</ul>
<h2 id="understandingthebasics">Passkey Security: Understanding the Basics</h2>
If you want to protect your data from cyberattacks, you need to use strong and secure authentication methods. One of the most effective ways to do that is by using passkeys. But what are passkeys and <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/passkey-vs-password" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">how do they differ from traditional passwords</a>?
A passkey refers to a cryptographic key pair that together encrypts and decrypts data. Unlike passwords, the passkey is never seen by the user.
If you don't know the passkey, how do you use it?
When creating a passkey for a new account, you'll verify your intent by unlocking the device using your PIN or biometrics. Your operating system creates a unique cryptographic key pair; one key is stored on the application or website where you're making an account, while the other is stored in secure elements on your device (such as secure enclaves or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trusted_Platform_Module" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">trusted platform modules (TPMs)</a>).
When you return to log into your account, you'll need to verify yourself as the device owner with that same PIN or biometric.
Passkeys are highly resistant to stealing, guessing, and brute-forcing, and cannot be phished. A criminal's best bet is to steal your device and biometric data that unlocks it.&nbsp;
One drawback is that only this device is authorized to log into the account. This inconvenience is being overcome, however, as tech giants like Google and Apple give you the option to sync your passkeys with your Google or iCloud account. Third-party password managers are implementing passkey support as well.&nbsp;It's important to understand that this puts the security of your private key in their hands.&nbsp;
A full walkthrough of setting up a passkey, understanding what is stored where, and handling roaming can be found <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/passkey-technology#:~:text=device%20FIDO%20credentials-,Passkey%20Login%20Examples,-Note%3A%C2%A0Below" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp;
<h2 id="passkeysandmfa">Passkeys and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)</h2>
Part of a passkey's appeal is that it combines the security elements achieved by passwords + MFA.
Passkeys require something you are or&nbsp;know (biometrics, PIN) plus something you&nbsp;possess (the device you authorized to store the cryptographic key pair - usually your phone).&nbsp;
The password + MFA setup requires two steps to achieve this. You need a password (something you know) and something else you know or are supposed to possess (software token from 2FA app, the code texted to your phone). But <a href="https://krebsonsecurity.com/2021/03/can-we-stop-pretending-sms-is-secure-now/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">SMS as a 2FA solution has severe drawbacks</a>, and people's <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/ultimate-guide-to-password-security-teampassword" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">password hygiene habits</a> aren't keeping up.
By combining elements of MFA with phishing-resistant cryptographic key pairs, passkeys increase convenience and improve security - a rare package in cybersecurity.&nbsp;
<h2 id="howdoespasskeysecuritywork">How Does Passkey Security Work?</h2>
Now that we've laid the groundwork, let's explore the inner workings of passkey security.
<h3>Passkey Generation</h3>
Passkey generation refers to the process of creating a unique cryptographic key pair for use in an authentication process. Passkeys replace the most common authentication method of username/password.
Here's an overview of the key components of passkey generation:
<ul>
<li>Randomness: Passkeys are designed to be unpredictable and difficult to guess. To achieve this, cryptographic systems often use sources of entropy, such as random number generators, to ensure that the generated passkey is truly random.</li>
<li>Asymmetric-key cryptography: This involves a pair of keys &ndash; a public key and a private key. The passkey generation process generates these key pairs. The public key is stored on a server, but it is useless without the private key, which is stored on your device. Data encrypted with the public key can only be decrypted by the corresponding private key.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Secure Storage: Once generated, passkeys need to be securely stored. This is crucial, especially for private keys in asymmetric cryptography. Unauthorized access to the keys compromises the security of the system.</li>
</ul>
Details of passkey generation may vary depending on the specific cryptographic protocols or standards being used. Additionally, security best practices and standards evolve over time, so if you plan to implement passkeys from a developer's perspective or wish to know the latest in passkey security enhancements, you'll be best served by the <a href="https://fidoalliance.org/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">FIDO Alliance website</a>.
<h3>Public and Private Keys</h3>
Enter the concept of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public-key_cryptography" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">public and private keys</a>. In passkey security, the public key is stored in an online database, while the private key remains on the user's device, or is "roamed" to other devices by a service like iCloud Keychain. This asymmetrical approach adds an extra layer of security, ensuring that even if the public key falls into the wrong hands, it remains useless without its counterpart.
Note: There are now several methods to sync your private key online and skip the <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/passkey-technology#:~:text=Now%2C%20I%20need%20to%20log%20in%20on%20my%20Macbook." rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Bluetooth authentication ceremony</a> normally required to enroll a new device. Syncing your private key places the security of said key in the hands of Google, Apple, or a third-party password manager. Whether or not this is a worthwhile tradeoff is up to you and your use case.&nbsp;
<h2 id="advantagesofpasskeysecurity">Advantages of Passkey Security</h2>
Let's explore why passkey security is gaining traction in the digital landscape.
<h3>Increased Security</h3>
Leaked and stolen passwords, phished 2FA tokens, and social engineering attacks continue to cost millions for businesses and wreak havoc for consumers.&nbsp;
Passkeys can't be phished, obtained through social engineering, or tricked into signing into a fake website. Passkeys are always long and random - something fallible humans continue to miss with passwords despite warnings from every side.
Together, these features eliminate the main downfalls of passwords.&nbsp;
<h3>User-Friendly Authentication</h3>
Say goodbye to complex password requirements and forgotten combinations. Passkeys streamline the authentication process, offering a user-friendly experience without compromising security.
<h2 id="challenges">Challenges and Considerations</h2>
As with any security system, passkeys come with their own challenges.
The features that make passkeys secure make managing them trickier.&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Passkeys can't be exported and imported between ecosystems at the time of this writing.</li>
</ul>
It's partly a security problem, but what incentive do vendors have to make it easy to transfer passkeys from Google Password Manager to iCloud Keychain, or from Keychain to a third-party password manager? If you have your passkeys in iCloud Keychain and decide to switch to Android, you'll have a lot of manual work to do setting up new passkeys for your accounts.&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>If your passkey isn't synced and you lose the device storing it, how do you create a new passkey?&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Relying parties (websites/applications) don't have a good answer. Sending a "reset passkey" email is off the table - it undoes the security benefits passkeys provide.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Corporate security policies are slow to change - passkeys are not. </li>
</ul>
How will corporate security teams handle their users using passkeys? In the vast majority of cases, passkeys are more secure, yet most companies have no documentation or policies around how they should be used, whether or not the private key can be synced and to what vendor, etc. Passkeys will be adopted slowly and messily.&nbsp;
<h2 id="bestpractices">Best Practices for Passkey Security</h2>
The critical element in passkey security is device security. If you lose your smartphone and it's only protected with a PIN like 1234, you risk your passkey-protected accounts being compromised.&nbsp;
The best thing you can do is to never leave your devices unattended where they could be stolen, and secure them with biometrics or a strong PIN.&nbsp;
You may wish to opt out of syncing your passkeys to a third-party password manager. A Bluetooth authentication ceremony will be required to authenticate a new device to use the website/application, but the private key security remains on your device.
<h2>Increase Security with TeamPassword</h2>
Passkeys lack universal support; password security remains critical. If you share passwords with colleagues and seek an effortless, secure, and cost-effective solution, test out TeamPassword.
TeamPassword prioritizes seamless implementation, <a href="https://teampassword.com/features" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">user-friendliness</a>, <a href="https://teampassword.com/security" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">security</a>, and outstanding customer support.
Need evidence? Explore <a href="https://www.g2.com/products/teampassword/reviews#reviews" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">customer testimonials on G2</a>.
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/signup" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Try us for free for 14 days!</a>&nbsp;

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Over the last decade, the gig economy boom has allowed professionals worldwide to switch to freelancing and build a network of international clients.&nbsp;
According to Upwork, 1 in 3 US workers engaged in freelance work during 2020. Some of the most successful freelancers earn hundreds of thousands of dollars per year through platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, and Toptal.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
Does your company hire freelancers? How do you <a href="https://teampassword.com/blog/should-i-share-data-with-freelancers">share passwords with freelancers</a>? TeamPassword is an affordable password management solution for small businesses, startups, and agencies to share credentials securely with team members and freelancers. <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a 14-day free trial</a> today.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
<h2>10 Successful Freelancers</h2>
Here are ten successful freelancers and what they do. These freelancers have earned their place as experts in their given field with excellent track records&mdash;many have worked with the biggest companies in the world!
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>1. Scott Luscombe - Graphic Designer / Shopify Expert / Website Developer / Copywriter&nbsp; - Canada</h3>
Scott Luscombe is a freelance graphic designer, Shopify expert, website developer, and copywriter from Uxbridge, Canada. He holds a degree in Illustration from Sheridan College and a degree in Marketing from the University of Toronto.
Scott has been a freelancer for most of his professional career and has earned over $500k on Upwork. He has completed over 311 jobs and worked&nbsp;10,956 hours!&nbsp;
Scott's work includes graphic design and branding, illustration and icons, copywriting, website design and development, UX/UI, and printing and packaging. He also provides freelance coaching and consulting. Scott is a Top Rated Upwork Freelancer currently charging $99 per hour for various creative gigs.
Some of Scott's most notable work includes designs for Coca-Cola, the Canadian Cancer Society, Nickelodeon, and Wallet Ninja (to name a few).&nbsp;
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>2. Kathy Edens - Marketing Consultant / Freelance Copywriter - United States</h3>
<a href="https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~016177d19f0624c1a7?viewMode=1">Kathy Edens is a Top Rated Upwork Freelancer</a> with over $300k platform earnings! Kathy has been self-employed as a marketing consultant and freelance copywriter for almost ten years from her home in Ohio, United States.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Professional Writing and Psychology from Oregon State University, which she says "...helps me understand how to reach your target audience with words."&nbsp;
Kathy has ghost-written several non-fiction books on various topics, including social entrepreneurship, healthcare, real estate investing, and the cannabis industry, to name a few.
Kathy also writes web content, sales pages, email marketing content, case studies, white papers, brochures, press releases, and more. Kathy's rates start at $86 per hour for her writing and marketing services.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
<h3>3. Koen van Oeveren - UX designer - Netherlands</h3>
Koen van Oeveren is a freelance UI &amp; UX designer from North Brabant, Netherlands, with almost ten years of experience. Koen works with several design agencies in the Netherlands, designing apps, websites, and eCommerce experiences for many international brands.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
Koen holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Communication and Multimedia Design from Avans University in the Netherlands. Koen's <a href="https://www.koenvo.com/index.html">portfolio website Koenvo</a> was nominated for a <a href="https://www.awwwards.com/sites/koenvo-ui-ux-portfolio">2021 awwwards. Award</a>.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
<h3>4. Pascal Strasche - Product / UX designer - Germany</h3>
Pascal Strasche is a product and UX designer with more than ten years of design experience from Germany. He holds a Master of Arts in Interaction Design and a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design, both from HAWK University of Applied Sciences and Arts.
For almost a year over 2020/2021, Pascal worked as the sole product designer to design Con Cubo's SaaS tool that helps complex organizations visualize and manage teams. He's also worked with German steel giant XOM Materials to find product solutions to digitalize&nbsp;Germany's steel industry.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
In 2019, Pascal founded Product Design Resources, a growing archive of 800+ design resources, weekly updated for the design community.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>5. Paul Hunkin - Developer - New Zealand</h3>
Paul Hunkin is a freelance software consultant and developer from Tauranga, New Zealand, but currently living in Portugal.&nbsp;
Paul has over ten years of experience as a software developer with an impressive work history, including Google, NASA, InfoSys, and the Chinese aerospace industry leader COMAC.
He's worked with several early-stage startups designing everything from high-performance big-data systems to complex web applications to 3D rendering engines. He's also built a lot of the foundational code for independent games on Android.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
Paul is a Top Rated Upwork Freelancer with over $400k in platform earnings. His rates start at $120 per hour for software development. <a href="https://paulh.consulting/">Check out Paul's website</a> for more about his impressive portfolio and work history.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>6. Jana Galat - Writer / Brand Strategist - Canada</h3>
Jana Galat is a freelance copywriter and brand strategist from Ontario, Canada. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Management and Organizational Studies from King's University College and an Honors in Business Administration from Western University.
Jana has extensive experience writing landing pages, email campaigns, social media ads, and print materials and says, "I am obsessed with creating copy that sells..."
After several years of professional work experience, Jana went freelance in 2019 and has quickly built a reputation as a <a href="https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~01bfa17a48301876dd">Top Rated Upwork Freelancer</a> with over $70k in platform earnings. Jana's rates start at $100 per hour for copywriting and brand consulting.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>7. Kate H. - Logo Designer / Branding Expert - United States</h3>
Kate is a freelance professional logo designer and branding expert from Maryland, United States. Kate&nbsp;ran her own green wedding brand which she sold to mywedding.com in 2014, allowing her to focus on helping small&nbsp;businesses figure out what they want (and who they are) and translate that into design.
She holds a Master's degree in Environmental Management from Yale School of The Environment, and a J.D. in environmental law from Pace Law School.&nbsp;
Kate's skillset includes redesigning and updating material to make it easier to understand, building a consistent brand from a simple starting point like a logo, and creating unique logos that guarantee results.
Kate is a Top Rated Upwork Freelancer, and her rates start at $225 per hour. You can find out more about Kate on her <a href="https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~013ce73876c1c18126" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Upwork profile</a>.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>8. Marcos Rezende - UX designer - Canada</h3>
Marcos Rezende is a UX Designer from Ontario, Canada, with more than 13 years of experience. Marcos has worked in over 30 industry sectors for multinational organizations in the United States, Canada, Germany, and Brazil.&nbsp;
Some of Marcos' notable projects include apps for Ontario's COVID-19 dashboard, Urban Master Planning collaboration platform, and Reaction (kid's e-learning app), to name a few.&nbsp;
Marcos loves sharing his industry expertise with aspiring UX designers and regularly writes for the popular UX publication Career Foundry. Total recognizes Marcos as part of its "Top 3%" of global freelancer talent&mdash;a title given to elite freelancers in their given field.
We don't have access to Marcos' rates, but the best UX designers on Upwork earn upwards of $100 per hour. As a Toptal Top 3% freelancer, Marcos likely charges $200-$300 per hour.
<a href="https://www.marcosrezende.com/">Marcos Rezende's website</a> was nominated for the prestigious <a href="https://www.awwwards.com/sites/ux-portfolio-marcos-rezende">awwwards.</a> in 2021.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>9. Tanya Litvinova - UX/UI Designer - United States</h3>
Tanya Litvinova is a freelance UX/UI designer from New York City, United States. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Advertising Design / Communication Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology.
Tanya specializes in product, mobile, and web design as well as user experience flow, research, and validation.
"I have a passion to make the complex simple, shape behavior, design, plan, and strategize. Aiming for the best user experience, all the while balancing the needs of business and technology to create engaging, habit-forming digital products."
Tanya has worked with Fortune 100 &amp; Fortune 500 companies and successfully delivered business-transforming data-driven analytics, responsive BI dashboards, enterprise web apps, and management systems. Some of Tanya's notable clients include KOCH Industries, BlackRock Financial, BCG Group, and FireEye, to name a few.
<a href="https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~0165035041b26e96df">Tanya is a Top Rated Upwork Freelancer</a> with more than $200k platform earnings. Her current rate starts at $162.50 per hour.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<h3>10. Guangming Lang - Data Scientist - United States</h3>
Guangming Lang is a freelance data scientist from Michigan, United States. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from New College of Florida and a Master of Science in Biostatistics from the University of Michigan. Guangming has also completed several Coursera courses in data science and machine learning.
Guangming has been a freelancer since 2013 and has worked across several industries, including fintech, trading, medicine, biotech, advertising, and HR.&nbsp;
Guangming is a Top Rated Upwork Freelancer with over $400k in platform earnings. He's completed 216 jobs on Upwork totaling 3,805 hours! Guangming's current rates start at $200 per hour.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
<h2>Secure Freelancer Workflows With TeamPassword</h2>
No matter how talented or reputable the freelancers and contractors you hire, your company must use secure workflows to protect your digital assets.
Freelancers often need access to shared accounts and tools. Using a <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password manager</a> is the first step to securing these accounts and platforms. You can also use a password manager to share credentials with employees, clients, and other stakeholders to ensure you never expose raw passwords via email, spreadsheets, chat apps, and other non-secure methods.
<a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">TeamPassword</a> lets you create groups to share access with only those who need it. When they're done, revoke access with a single click. No need to change passwords every time someone leaves the team.
If you do need to change a password, TeamPassword's built-in <a href="https://teampassword.com/password-generator">password generator</a> lets you create secure passwords between 12-32 characters using numbers, letters (uppercase/lowercase), and symbols.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
Ready to onboard clients and freelancers securely with TeamPassword's robust <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">password management solution</a>? <a href="https://app.teampassword.com/dashboard#signup/testimonial">Sign up for a free trial</a> to secure your company's digital assets today!

Here are ten successful freelancers and what they do. These freelancers have earned their place as experts in their given field.

Here are ten successful freelancers and what they do. These freelancers have earned their place as experts in ...

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