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Psst. . . What's your password?
In today's Information Age, it seems as if people need a password for almost everything-their desktop computers, voice mail, e-mail accounts, ATM accounts, even to get into some buildings. Passwords have become, dare we say, almost routine, and it's easy to not take them seriously or to use the same password for everything.
What gets lost in the password mania is a key little fact that passwords are the first line of defense against the misuse of information and information systems. At Syracuse University, passwords are the keys to information security. It is the responsibility of all faculty, staff, and students to maintain secure passwords for their computing and e-mail accounts as well as any information and administrative systems for which they have access.
To help the University community understand the importance of developing and maintaining secure passwords, the University's Security Awareness Committee has developed an informational brochure that includes some password "do's and don'ts."
"One of the most basic rules in password security is to never allow anyone to use your personal identification or password to log onto the University's network," says Deborah Beishline, a member of the Computing & Media Services security team. "You can be held responsible for what others do on the network while using your password. Failure to keep your password a secret compromises information and information systems that have been entrusted to you."
Some basic password etiquette includes:
- developing a strong password that includes a mix of numbers, letters, and special characters,
- memorizing your password or storing it in a secure place,
- changing your password regularly,
- using a password-protected screen saver, and
- logging out of the computer network when you step away from your desk or are finished for the day.
Further information about SU computing policy and the responsibility of faculty, staff, and students in maintaining a secure computing environment may be found on the CMS Web site at http://cms.syr.edu/policy/computepolicy.cfm and at http://cms.syr.edu/is/empack-form.cfm. 
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