Credentials are the unique identifiers used to verify a person\u2019s identity and authority level when logging into an organization\u2019s system or equipment. They can range in form or type, including passwords, certificates, tokens, or keys. In some cases, accessing a system may require a combination of these things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beyond being essential for identity authentication, credentials are necessary to carry out specific workplace tasks. Each person\u2019s credential typically comes equipped with a certain level of permissions<\/a> or access to an organization\u2019s internal workings and information so they can do their job. The level of permission or access is typically based on the credential holder\u2019s position and job needs and is liable to change as a person\u2019s responsibilities within an organization change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Credential management is the practice of safely and securely making, sharing, updating, and monitoring these credentials for your organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since credentials give access to an organization\u2019s systems and sensitive information, effective credential management is essential not just in daily operations but also to a company\u2019s overall cybersecurity. Proper management protects your organization from cyberattacks and other malicious activities that can jeopardize your clients or customers\u2019 personal information and the functioning of an entire business network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Credential management is essential in a vast range of situations, from workplaces and schools to private businesses and government organizations. It has also become increasingly important (and challenging) with remote work<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From following password best practices to implementing an effective credential management system, there are many elements to consider. Some things are done at an admin or IT level, while individual employees can take on others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Below are some of the most essential components of credential management and why they\u2019re important to overall operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the things that can be done at the individual level is educating an organization\u2019s employees and ensuring they follow password best practices<\/a>, such as using unique, high-quality passwords.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Such practices typically include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n A strong password that follows these rules is much harder to guess or use to break into multiple systems or logins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Multi-factor authentication<\/a> ensures the identity of a user by requiring two separate ways of confirming a person\u2019s identity. You\u2019ve likely encountered this well beyond using a work or school account for accounts linked to your sensitive personal data (like logging into your online banking account), and it is even an option for most email or social media accounts.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since this login method requires more than one way of authenticating the person, this is considered a much more secure practice for preventing fraudulent or malicious acts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of the many successful cyberattacks that have taken place, over 80% <\/a>were traced back to mistakes made by people, like employees who unknowingly give away their system credentials. A common method used by hackers or people with ill intent to gain this information is phishing emails that lead to malware being installed on their device or their information being entered into an unsecured system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While there are many ways to address cybersecurity, offering employees training or information to help spot cyberthreats like phishing emails is another effective way to reduce these potentially costly mistakes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Zero Trust (ZT) approach<\/a>, as the name implies, is to always ensure network users and devices are verified rather than trusting that they\u2019re harmless if they\u2019re within the network. This approach requires authorizing all devices on a network in order to operate and verifying credentials to access specific data types before each use.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n This approach also encompasses giving the minimum amount of access possible for someone to complete their job or limited time access to certain types of information. This keeps access to sensitive information or essential data as minimal as possible so that access to information is limited even if an employee\u2019s credentials are stolen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When an organization has accounts that are no longer in use after a person has moved on from their job, these accounts must be removed from a network. If not, these accounts can be a gateway to the rest of the network since they\u2019re unmonitored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tracking and auditing user activity isn\u2019t just for keeping tabs on productivity and ensuring employees aren\u2019t spending their work days streaming shows or gambling online by ensuring they don\u2019t go to the website<\/a> or websites related to these activities. Tracking and auditing users can be made specific to the activities associated with sensitive information to ensure it\u2019s being used in the intended way by the intended people.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhy Is Credential Management Important?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat Does Credential Management Encompass?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Following Password Best Practices<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Using Multi-Factor Authentication<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Providing Cybersecurity Training<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Following the Zero-Trust Security Model<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Removing Inactive Accounts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Tracking & Auditing User Activity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Implementing a Credential Management System<\/h3>\n\n\n\n