Password Security
The authority hub for password and credential security — generation tools, strength evaluation, and policy guidance aligned with NIST, HIPAA, PCI DSS, and Microsoft 365.
Tools
Password Security Tools
Free, client-side tools — nothing is transmitted or stored.
Password Generator
Generate cryptographically secure passwords and passphrases, entirely in your browser.
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Password Strength Checker
Evaluate an existing password against entropy, pattern, and modern guidance criteria.
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Password Policy Generator
Generate a written credential policy document scoped to your compliance framework.
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Downloads
Downloadable Resources
Free templates and guides — preview, copy, or download as Markdown or plain text.
Checklist
Password Security Checklist
A practical, printable checklist covering the core credential-security controls every organization should have in place.
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Guide
Administrator Implementation Guide
A step-by-step technical guide for IT administrators implementing a modern password policy across an identity platform.
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Executive Brief
Executive Password Governance Guide
A concise, non-technical briefing for leadership on why modern password governance matters and what to expect from the program.
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Checklist
Password Audit Checklist
A structured checklist for auditing an organization's current password posture before or during a security assessment.
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Worksheet
Password Manager Evaluation Worksheet
A structured worksheet for comparing password manager vendors before a business-wide deployment decision.
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Awareness Guide
Password Security Awareness Guide
A plain-language guide for general staff — not administrators — on what changed in password guidance and what to actually do.
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Checklist
Password Incident Response Checklist
Immediate steps to take when a password compromise is suspected or confirmed.
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Guide
Password Best Practices Guide
A consolidated reference covering the full set of current password best practices in one document.
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Checklist
Password Compliance Checklist
A cross-framework checklist for confirming password practices align with HIPAA, PCI DSS, and general NIST-based expectations.
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Educational Articles
Understand the Fundamentals
Reference guides on the concepts behind password strength and modern credential guidance.
NIST Password Guidelines
What NIST SP 800-63B actually recommends for length, complexity, and rotation — and what it explicitly moved away from.
Beginner
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Passphrase vs. Password
A deeper look at when a multi-word passphrase outperforms a traditional complex password, and when it does not.
Beginner
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Password Entropy Explained
How entropy is calculated, why it matters more than surface-level complexity, and how to reason about it practically.
Intermediate
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Password Manager Guide
How to choose, deploy, and enforce use of a password manager across a business.
Beginner
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Microsoft Password Best Practices
Password and authentication guidance specific to Microsoft 365 and Entra ID environments.
Intermediate
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Compliance
Framework-Specific Guidance
How password requirements are interpreted under the frameworks IT KORR clients are most often assessed against.
Quick Reference
The Short Version
Full treatment lives in the articles above.
Credential Stuffing
Reused passwords turn one breach into access across every account sharing that password.
Brute Force Attacks
Short or low-entropy passwords can be recovered in minutes against offline copies of stolen hashes.
Predictable Substitutions
"P@ssw0rd" follows patterns automated cracking tools check first — substitution alone doesn't save a weak base word.
Forced Expiration
Frequent mandatory changes tend to produce weaker, more predictable passwords over time.
FAQ
Common Questions
What is the difference between a password and a passphrase?
A password is typically a shorter string mixing character types; a passphrase is several unrelated words combined together. Passphrases can be both easier to remember and higher-entropy than short, complex passwords when built from enough words.
Which framework should our password policy follow?
Most modern frameworks — NIST 800-63B, HIPAA, PCI DSS, and Microsoft's own guidance — have converged on favoring length and uniqueness over forced complexity and rotation. Specific minimums vary by framework; see the compliance guides below.
How does this cluster relate to Identity & Access Management?
This cluster covers the credential itself — length, uniqueness, storage. The Identity & Access Management hub covers everything around that credential: multi-factor authentication, passwordless and passkeys, single sign-on, Conditional Access, and privileged access governance.
Operational Support
Need to enforce password policy across your organization?
IT KORR can design, document, and enforce credential and access management policy aligned with your compliance requirements.
No commitment required — we respond within one business day.