As a business, you’ll have tonnes of data passing over your WiFi servers each day. Protecting this data is essential. A strong WiFi password not only protects sensitive data, like customer contact information or financial details, but it also prevents unauthorised access. This ensures your network stays reliable and accessible.
At Smart LTD, we specialise in business WiFi solutions, so we understand the importance of keeping your network secure. In this article, we’re going to talk about strong WiFi best practices, so you can keep your business and data safe and secure.
1. Complex and Unique
We know they’re harder to remember, but all of your passwords should be complex and unique.
Avoid obvious passwords like 123456789 and instead aim for at least 12-16 characters, with a mixture of numbers, characters and symbols.
Tools like LastPass’s password generator can help you create these random passwords.
You should also have a unique password for each platform/system you use. Don’t repeat passwords from platform to platform, as this can leave you vulnerable to hackers.
2. Avoid Personal Information
Don’t include easily guessable information, like your business name, phone number or address. Cyber Hackers can easily find these details and use them to crack your password. SmartLTD123 would not be a great password for us!
3. Change Your Router’s Default Password
Most routers will come with a standard password like admin. These passwords are widely known and exploited often. So, if you do get a new router, make sure you update the passwords as soon as possible.
4. Use WPA or WPA3
WPA (WiFi protected access) is a security measure that is there to protect networks from unauthorised access. It encrypts the data transmitted between a device and the router, making it harder for hackers to intercept and read this.
For the best protection, you should ensure your WiFi security protocol is set to at least WPA2, preferably WPA3. The older the version, the more susceptible it will be to hacking.
5. Have a Guest Network
If you operate a business like a restaurant, bar, or hotel, you should have a separate WiFi network for your guests. Guests may unintentionally introduce malware to your network by using compromised devices or accessing compromised websites, this could spread a cyberattack through your whole network.
Having your business date on a separate network helps mitigate this risk. It can help prevent unauthorised access to internal resources, such as drives, printers and security cameras.
By separating your guest traffic from your main network, you can also manage your WiFi speeds better.
