Top Five Password Manager of 2022: Why you never have to memorize a single password again
There’s a power struggle going on right now between humans and passwords, and the passwords are winning. As the pandemic drove us into our homes, the number of passwords we have to enter increased as we hunkered down online. It’s been said that a good password should be at minimum 12 characters including a mix of upper/lower case letters, numbers, and symbols. Factor in a recent Nordpass study that determined an average person needs to remember 100 passwords, many of us are forced to retain and recall an average of 1200 characters just to get by in today’s online world.
If we forget them or don’t enter them precisely, the password has the power to stop EVERYTHING in its tracks. No wonder the password “12345” continues to top the most commonly used password lists.
World password day
The password’s power is so far-reaching, that it’s catapulted to “condition” status appropriately named “password fatigue,” prompting us to use that hacker-friendly “12345” password. But the crowning achievement must be the moment password was anointed it’s very own day: World Password Day – May 5, 2022. Writers in news media will share light-hearted anecdotes to remind their audiences to not forget World Password Day, a day to remember …to change all of your passwords!
When a password is weak it is it strongest
Strangely enough, when a password is weak it’s at its most powerful. The second our devices are hacked and our data stolen, sending our lives and our businesses into chaos. Data breaches can easily sink a small business; no one can afford to be a cyber criminal’s next victim.
Top seven reasons to have a password manager
- Best defence to keep your data secure from cyber criminals.
- No need to remember all your passwords.
- Auto-login, or copy-paste user id and password.
- Encrypted storage.
- Same tool on different devices.
- Generates unique password.
- Store unlimited number of records.
- Business accounts can be monitored and managed for staff changes.
- Manage executives online presence.
Shocking but true, C-suite executives often do not pay attention or follow their own rules related to digital security. A password manager can help all employees at all levels keep company data secure without feeling that they are in Fort Knox (digitally). Heimdal Security has a great best practices list for any company to follow and implement. The next thing is to periodically audit staff to ensure they are following the protocols.
Best password managers
Fortunately for individuals and businesses alike, we have the ability to reclaim some of the power that passwords hold over us and bolster our cyber security defence. All it takes is enlisting the services of a password manager application. Most plans for business offer complimentary family accounts for employees, free trial periods, and then are billed annually. Before shopping for a password manager, take note of your devices, operating systems, and browsers to ensure you select a manager that will be compatible with all of them.
Designed with ease of use and a high level of security in mind, the following options in password management software applications are considered to be some of the best available today.
1Password
Now one of Canada’s most valuable tech companies due to a recent record-setting influx of funding ($620 million to be exact), 1Password is a great option for small to medium-sized businesses looking to streamline password management, and “buy Canadian” all at the same time. 1Password literally means one master password needed to access all passwords in a dedicated password vault.
With custom reporting, 1Password can identify potential threats or confirm if any credentials or email addresses have been exposed to a data breach. Compatible with all types of devices, operating systems, and browsers.
Business plan: $7.99 per user, per month
- Unlimited shared vaults and item storage.
- Admin controls to manage employees, permissions, and delegate responsibilities.
- Advanced reporting for compromised employee emails and vulnerable passwords.
- Two-factor authentication for an extra layer of protection.
- Free family accounts for all employees.
- Custom groups to organize teams.
- 24/7 dedicated business support.
- Available on Mac, iOS, Windows, Android, Chrome OS, and Linux.
Notable: 1Password won the 2021 award for Best Customer Support from Trustradius.com, a business technology review website.
Dashlane
Business Plan, with VPN: $8.00 per user, per month, with loads of features including:
- SAML-based single sign-on (SSO)
- U.S.-patented security architecture
- Security dashboard
- Advanced reporting
- Compromised password alerts
- Two-factor authentication
- Remote deletion of company accounts
- Smart Spaces separate work & personal accounts
- Unlimited devices
- Group password sharing
- Free Premium Family accounts
- Live chat support plus Expert email support, 7 days a week
- Technical onboarding support
Notable: Reviewers at PC Magazine selected Dashlane as an Editor’s Choice winner “on the strength of its security tools.”
LastPass
Your secrets are so safe at Lastpass, that Lastpass doesn’t even know them! Your sensitive data is encrypted and decrypted at the device level. Whenever you use your master password and encryption/decryption keys, they are never sent to Lastpass servers, rendering them inaccessible by Lastpass. For businesses experiencing growth, the Lastpass business plan includes an unlimited number of users for $8.20 per user, per month, along with the following features:
- Team features for 50 or fewer members (individual private vaults, Share items in folders, data breach monitoring)
- 3 Single Sign On (SSO) apps with Multifactor protection (MFA)
- LastPass Families for employees
- Adoption Dashboard
- 1,200+ pre-integrated SSO apps
- Customizable user management
- Integrate with Identity Providers
- Advanced SSO and MFA add-ons available
Notable: “LastPass reporting dashboard is the most comprehensive real-time breakdown of employee interaction with the password software we’ve seen from a password management company.” – PC Magazine
Keeper
Keeper Password Manager & Digital Vault is another PC Magazine Editor’s Choice password manager. Like LastPass, Keeper is a “zero-knowledge” password manager; know thy master password, because Keeper isn’t saving it for you. Protect your business’s confidential files, documents, photos, and videos on unlimited devices. Provide every employee with their own private fault.
Keeper Business plan, at $3.75 per user, per month, includes a free family Keeper for all users, plus:
- One-click access to sites with KeeperFill
- Strong random password generator
- Highest-rated mobile, web, and desktop apps
- World-class training and support
- Enterprise-grade security
- Security audit and reports
- Management of groups and policies
- Store confidential information and files
- Dark web monitoring available
- select add-ons
Notable: when it comes to two-factor authentication, Keeper’s options are plentiful: text message, Time-Based One Time Passwords (TOTP), FIDO Universal 2-Factor, and you can even use a smartwatch during the two-factor process.
If your business has computers, customers, and vendors, using a password manager is critical to both safeguarding everyone’s sensitive data, and eliminating password fatigue. The added bonus: only changing one password during the next World Password Day.
Resources
Implementing secure password protocols
Cyber Insurance for business
Tech.co: Study reveals average person has 100 passwords
Nordpass: 2021 most common passwords
1Password
Dashlane
LastPass
Keeper
Password and cyber security infographic
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