Your Business’s Passwords Are Still Too Weak (Yes, Really)

Let’s have a moment of honesty.

Do you (or someone on your team) still use a password like “12345” or “password123”?
If the answer is yes—you’re far from alone. But that doesn’t make it okay.

Despite years of warnings from IT pros (yes, like me), weak and reused passwords are still everywhere. And in today’s cybersecurity landscape, that’s a major risk. For your data. For your finances. And for your reputation.

Weak Passwords: Still a Big Problem in 2025

You’d be shocked how many businesses—small, mid-sized, and even large—are still relying on passwords that can be cracked in less than a second.

A recent study found that the most commonly used business passwords are still:

• “123456”

• “password”

• “123456789”

• And yes… “qwerty123”

Let’s call it what it is: an open door for cybercriminals. These aren’t clever or secure. They’re basically an engraved invitation to your data.

And while it’s tempting to think only giant corporations are targets, small businesses are actually hit harder when breaches happen. Why? Because they often lack the resources—financial and technical—to recover quickly or quietly. A single compromised account could give hackers access to:

• Company emails

• Financial records

• Customer data

• Internal documents

• Your brand’s trust and credibility

And here’s the scary part: you may not even realize it happened until the damage is already done.

“But We Don’t Have Anything Worth Stealing…”

I hear this a lot. And here’s the truth: yes, you do.

Even if you’re a small team of five, your systems contain valuable data. Client records, project files, login credentials, contracts, and communication histories—all of these can be exploited, sold, or used to gain access to other businesses you work with.

Hackers don’t just target billion-dollar corporations. They go for easy wins. And nothing’s easier than weak, reused, or predictable passwords.

The Problem Isn’t Just Obvious Passwords

Even if your team isn’t using “123456”, that doesn’t mean your passwords are secure.

Many people still use:

• Their own name or company name

• Their birthdate or anniversary

• Their pet’s name (hello, Fluffy123!)

• Their email address or phone number

• Sentimental phrases like “iloveyou” or “sunshine”

It might feel personal, memorable—even sweet. But in security terms? It's a huge vulnerability.

So… What Can You Actually Do?

Step 1: Use Strong, Unique Passwords for Every Login

The golden rule: every account should have a different, complex password. That means:

• At least 12 characters

• A mix of uppercase/lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols

• No real words, phrases, or patterns

• Nothing that can be guessed based on your public info

No one wants to remember 30 ultra-secure passwords (and no, writing them on a sticky note under your keyboard doesn’t count). This brings us to…

Step 2: Use a Password Manager

A password manager does the heavy lifting for you. It generates and securely stores complex passwords for every login, so your team only needs to remember one master password.

Bonus: many password managers also alert you if any of your stored credentials have been part of a data breach.

Some popular options include:

• 1Password

• Bitwarden

• LastPass

• Dashlane

This is one of the easiest investments you can make in better security and peace of mind.

Step 3: Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Even the strongest password can be stolen. That’s where multi-factor authentication (MFA) comes in.

MFA adds a second layer of protection—like a temporary code sent to your phone or an app prompt. It’s quick, easy, and blocks 99.9% of automated login attacks, even if a password is compromised.

Make it a standard practice across your business, especially for:

• Email

• Cloud apps

• Admin panels

• Banking or finance tools

Step 4: Say Goodbye to Passwords Altogether (With Passkeys)

Looking for something more secure and simpler than passwords? Passkeys are the future.

They use biometric authentication—like fingerprint or facial recognition—or secure device-based verification. That means no passwords to remember and virtually nothing to steal.

Passkeys are already supported by platforms like Google, Apple, and Microsoft. It’s a great way to future-proof your login process and streamline access without compromising on security.

Strong Passwords Are Just the Beginning

Cybersecurity doesn’t have to be overwhelming or expensive. But it does have to be intentional.

Your passwords—and how your team uses them—are your first line of defense. Weak, reused, or predictable passwords are low-hanging fruit for hackers. Let’s not make their jobs easy.

Need a Hand?

If you’re unsure how secure your current login system really is, or you want help rolling out password managers, MFA, or passkeys for your team—we’re here to help.

Let’s lock the door before someone walks through it.
Get in touch today and let’s strengthen your security from the ground up.