A simple guide to creating strong passwords. Brought to you by Resource One - trusted managed IT services provider serving the Portland, Oregon Metro Area since 1997.

1. PASSWORD PROTECTED.
A Simple Guide to Creating Strong Passwords

2. WHAT WE’RE GOING TO COVER
3 Elements of Strong Passwords
How to Put Them to the Test
Common Mistakes
Most Popular Passwords

3. ELEMENTS
The 3 essential elements you’ll
need to include in every password
you create.

4. LENGTH
• At least 8 characters long
• Try using several words or a sentence grouped
together
• Example:
SENTENCE
PASSWORD
This sentence is my password
Thissentenceismypassword

5. COMPLEXITY
• Use a combination of letters, numerals, and
symbols
• Alternate between upper and lower case (3 of each
is recommended)
• Example:
BEFORE
AFTER
Thissentenceismypassword
ThisS3nt3nceismyPassword.
TIP: Use numbers that are meaningful to you. For
example, ThisSentenceismyPassword2014.

6. VARIETY
• Use different passwords across your accounts
• Change them up every couple of months
• Retire old passwords, or reinvent them with
numbers and symbols

7. CHECK YOURSELF
Before you wreck yourself.
You’ve created it, now it’s time to
set that baby to work. How will it
hold up?

8. TEST IT OUT
• Run your password through a Strength Checker
• If it’s a strong password, use it!
Microsoft offers a free password
strength checker. You can
access it using this link:
http://bit.ly/18RC8km

9. COMMON MISTAKES
We all make them. Here they are,
so you know what to avoid.

10. THINGS TO NOT DO
Hackers these days are smart, with sophisticated
tools that can easily decipher passwords. Avoid these
things to protect yourself:
• Words spelled backwards, common abbreviations
• Common sense letter-to-symbol or letter-to-number
replacements
Ex) “and” to “&” or “o” to “0”

11. THINGS TO NOT DO
• Using personal info – birthday, maiden name,
phone number, etc.
• Easy-to-guess sequences – 12345, abcde, 0000

12. THE MPP
That’s Most Popular Passwords.
These are the most commonly
used passwords out there, and
therefore you should avoid using
them.

13. THE TOP 10 LIST
1
password
6
monkey
2
123456
7
letmein
3
12345678
8
dragon
4
abc123
9
111111
5
qwerty
10
Source: SplashData
baseball

14. Get a Free Security Assessment
IT SECURITY
ASSESSMENT
REPORT
Get an all-in-one evaluation
of your company’s level of
protection and vulnerability
to IT threats.
http://bit.ly/1cOgJNI

15. Trusted Technology Partner Since 1997.