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Creating Strong and Secure Passwords

Why Strong Passwords Matter​

Passwords are the first line of defence in protecting our company's data, systems, and your personal information. Weak or reused passwords are one of the most common ways cyber criminals gain access to sensitive data.

The UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) recommends simple but effective strategies to create strong passwords that are easy to remember but hard for attackers to guess.

Avoid Common and Guessable Passwords​

Attackers use automated tools that can guess millions of passwords in seconds, especially when people use:

  • Simple passwords like password, 123456, or qwerty
  • Personal details like names, birthdays, pets
  • Common keyboard patterns (asdfgh, 1qaz2wsx)

Never use the same password across multiple sites — if one gets leaked, all your accounts are at risk.

Use Longer, Stronger Passwords: Three Random Words​

The NCSC recommends a method called Three Random Words:

  • Choose three unrelated words and join them together, e.g. LemonRocketTable or PurpleCactusJump
  • This method is easy to remember, hard for machines to guess, and encourages longer passwords which are more secure

Don't include spaces or obvious patterns, and avoid using words that are personally associated with you (like pet names or birthplaces).

Use 1Password to Manage Passwords​

Remembering multiple strong passwords can be difficult — that's why we use 1Password, our trusted password manager.

Benefits of 1Password:

  • Generates secure, unique passwords for every account
  • Stores them safely, so you don't have to remember them
  • Syncs across devices for convenience
  • Helps detect weak or reused passwords

Make sure your 1Password account is set up and in use. Use it to generate and store all work-related passwords. Do not store passwords in browsers or written notes.

Check out the getting started guide for 1Password here: https://support.1password.com/explore/get-started/