The password policy everyone ignores
The policy says 16 characters, unique, rotated quarterly. Reality says "Summer2024!"
Password policies fail because they're designed for compliance, not humans. Complex requirements lead to predictable patterns (capitalise first letter, add number and symbol at end, increment each quarter). The policy exists. The security doesn't.
The scenario:
You need a password strategy that's both secure and actually followed.
The prompt:
You're redesigning password policy and enforcement.
Create a strategy that includes:
- Modern password guidance (length over complexity, passphrases)
- Password manager deployment and adoption plan
- Breach monitoring (alerting on compromised credentials)
- MFA requirements by system sensitivity
- Privileged access management for admin accounts
- Enforcement mechanisms that don't rely on user compliance
- User communication and training
Include rollout timeline and resistance-handling talking points.