Technology

Password security is 8 times stronger in micro businesses than large firms

Workers sharing IT passwords are leaving growing businesses vulnerable to cyber-attacks, according to a new study, but the smallest firms are up to eight times more secure than large companies.

A new global report from password management group LastPass “2018 Global Password Security Report” found that on average any given employee shares six passwords with their co-workers. This problem, the report added, gets worse as companies grow and increase their workforce.

Indeed, it said that organisations with less than 25 employees have the best average password security with the problem increasing as they expand in size.

This is because more employees bring more passwords and unsanctioned apps as well dangerous? password behaviours such as sharing.

in larger organisations, it’s simply more challenging for IT to hold all employees to password security standards, LastPass stated.

The report developed a calculation called the LastPass Security Score to provide a new benchmark for the industry. It found that the best sector for password security was technology, with a score of 53/100, given the level of privacy and data laws firms need to comply with. The next best were banking, health and government with 49.