Security fatigue is the feeling of being overwhelmed by all the things you have to do. The number of passwords, keys, tokens, smartcards, etc. becomes so great that people tend to ignore them.
How to Prevent Employees Experience Security Fatigue
1. Use a password manager.
2. Use one-time password tokens for 2-factor authentication.
3. Use smartcards for physical access control.
4. Encrypt all your data using disk encryption software.
5. Use two-factor authentication for logins to network computers and servers.
6. Use two-factor authentication for mobile devices like smartphones and tablets
7. Use two-factor authentication for cloud applications.
Let us discuss each of these in detail.
1. Use a password manager.
Password managers are software programs that automatically create secure passwords for you. They will also help you remember them, but most importantly, they will enable you to use long, random passwords that are difficult to remember.
Also, password managers are an ideal way to prevent security fatigue. They solve the problem of having to remember multiple passwords for different websites, applications, and servers you use regularly. Most people find it easier to remember one password than many. Plus, if your password is stolen or compromised, all your other accounts can be vulnerable as well.
2. Use one-time password tokens for 2-factor authentication.
Use one-time password (OTP) tokens for 2-factor authentication. This is like using ATM debit cards. You need two things to access your money—your card and the PIN. A 2-factor token does the same thing, except that you need both your desktop or mobile device and the OTP token to access your online account.
3. Use smartcards for physical access control
Smart Cards are like ID cards that can be used for identification purposes or electronic payment systems. These are often used in physical access control systems, so you have to have them with you to gain entry into certain buildings or offices.
4. Encrypt all your data using a disk encryption software
You should always encrypt the hard drive of your computer using disk encryption software. If you have sensitive data on your computer, it is best to ensure that the data is encrypted at all times, even if it’s lost or stolen.
5. Use two-factor authentication for logins to network computers and servers.
For logins to network computers and servers, you should use 2-factor authentication. This means that you should have a token or smartcard for logging in to your network resources.
6. Use two-factor authentication for mobile devices like smartphones and tablets.
For mobile devices like smartphones and tablets, you should use 2-factor authentication. This means that you should have a token or smartcard for logging in to these mobile devices.
7. Use two-factor authentication for cloud applications.
For cloud applications, you should use 2-factor authentication. Which also means that you should have a token or smartcard for logging in to these online services.
Conclusion
Security fatigue is a very real problem that we all face. It’s hard to remember all the passwords and credentials we need to access all the different resources and applications we use daily. So the best way to avoid security fatigue is to start using a password manager. It will also create and remember all your passwords for you; and you will only need to remember one password—the one used by your password manager program.
But if you don’t like the idea of using a password manager, perhaps you can consider using smartcards for 2-factor authentication. They are still relatively new technology, but they work well and are much easier to use than OTP tokens.
