Let Us Know!
HAVE PASSWORD POLICIES GONE TOO FAR?
When we set up a customer’s password policy, their dread is sometimes very obvious. The industry has come up with best practices for setting passwords, and while they are extensive, we’ve found them to be vital. We often advise clients to implement the following industry standards for their policies. 1. Change your password every 90 days. 2. Use a new password every time you change it. 3. Make your password at least 14 characters long. 4. Use uppercase and lowercase letters. 5. Include special characters, such as punctuation marks or symbols. 6. Don’t use any real words. Because of these standards, passwords can be complex and confusing, especially since every device, service, or login requires a different one. (You should never use the same password for various logins.) When you need to create a new password for numerous accounts and devices, how can you be expected to remember each random jumble of 20 characters while getting the punctuation and letters right each time? Humans have great memories, but we’re not that good.
chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and when a password in your business or home is weak, you’re at risk for a security breach. Being a smaller fish doesn’t make you immune to attacks either. In fact, 61 percent of small business owners have experienced a cyber-attack in the past 12 months, and according to a study at the University of Maryland, hackers attack a device every 39 seconds. Typically, we try to compromise with our clients on industry practices. Instead of 90-day limits, we compromise with a 120-day limit, or maybe we do away with the repeater clause. We don’t want your password to be so complex that you need to reset it every time you log on, but we don’t want to your devices to have security holes either. Every client is different, so we want your opinion: What is the balance when it comes to password policies? Are we stuck in a password-heavy world, or do we need more security? Do we have to adapt and learn how to live with complex passwords?
Let us know on
However, as technology experts, we have seen how secure devices and personal information can be when you use a strong password. A
LinkedIn.com/company/microtech-systems-inc.
Have a Laugh!
Ingredients
Classic French Omelet
• •
3 large eggs
Kosher salt and freshly ground white or black pepper
•
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
Directions
1. In medium bowl, beat eggs with disposable plastic fork until last traces of white are just mixed in. Season with salt and pepper. 2. In an 8-inch nonstick skillet, melt butter, swirling over medium heat until foamy but not browned. Add eggs, stirring rapidly with fork, tips of tines up, while moving skillet to agitate eggs. Ensure all curds are broken up, scraping from bottom of skillet as they form. Stop stirring as soon as eggs are very softly scrambled and creamy (but still loose enough to come together into a single mass), 1–2 minutes. 3. Using fork, gently spread egg in an even layer around skillet and scrape
down any wispy bits around the edges. The top surface should be loose and creamy, but if it looks too liquid and raw, cook undisturbed for another few seconds. If still liquid, swirl skillet to bring raw egg to the edge where it will set more quickly. 4. Remove from heat. Tilt skillet up by handle. Using fork, gently roll omelet down over itself until nearly folded in half. Using fork, push omelet to edge of skillet so that lower edge of egg just begins to overhang. Use fork to fold overhanging edge of egg back over, closing omelet. 5. Turn omelet out onto plate. It should be either almond- or cigar-shaped, seam on bottom.
page 3
Inspired by SeriousEats.com
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs