The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a set of guidelines designed to protect cardholder data and ensure that organizations handling payment card information maintain a secure environment. Among its many requirements, PCI DSS places significant... Read More
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Specops Software Introduces API for Specops Secure Service Desk to Authenticate End User Identity
New API opens up the ability for organizations to use the Specops Authentication platform to verify end users in ITSM tools like ServiceNow Today, Specops Software announced the release of a new API for its Secure Service Desk product.... Read More
Guide to the PCI-DSS v4.0.1 regulations [Updated for 2025]
The PCI DSS compliance framework has been a staple in the cybersecurity realm for businesses handling credit card transactions. The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard was developed to encourage and enhance payment card account data security. It helps define consistent security... Read More
Guide to NCSC’s Cyber Essentials password policy compliance
Passwords play an important role in the Cyber Essentials scheme. If you are planning for Cyber Essentials accreditation, you will need to make sure your password policy is up to the challenge. Read More
[New research] How well does SHA256 protect against modern password cracking
The Specops research team have previously published data on how long it would take for hackers to brute force hashed user passwords. We set up hardware to test two different algorithms: MD5 hashed passwords and bcrypt hashed passwords. Now,... Read More
Ten security best practices for Active Directory service accounts
Microsoft Active Directory is arguably one of the most attacked resources that you can run on-premises. The reason for this is that it stores the “keys to the kingdom.” Everything identity related on-premises and even in hybrid-joined cloud environments... Read More
TfL forced to manually reset 30K passwords after cyber-attack – is there an easier way?
In early September 2024, Transport for London (TfL) found itself at the epicenter of a sophisticated cyber-attack. As the news broke, the scale of the breach became apparent, leading to operational disruptions and the need for an immediate, robust... Read More
How to communicate a new password policy to your end users
Rolling out a new password policy without a communication plan is a recipe for disaster. You want to avoid a situation where all end users are prompted to change their passwords without understanding what they’re doing or why –... Read More
NIST password guidelines: Full guide to NIST password compliance
Many look to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) guidelines as the gold standard when it comes to cybersecurity best practices. But as you’ve likely heard, NIST has updated its password guidelines in the latest draft of... Read More
Creating a custom password-exclusion dictionary with ChatGPT
When cybercriminals attempt to crack passwords, it makes sense to go for the lowest hanging fruit. They’re going to start by trying the most common, easy-to-guess passwords, as chances are some end users are bound to have chosen them.... Read More
How to set up the key components of a password policy in Active Directory
Once you’ve planned out a new password policy, it’s time to put it into practice by setting the right configurations within your Active Directory. If you’re still at the planning stage, we’d recommend checking out our strategy tips for... Read More
Five strategy recommendations for planning a password policy
An Active Directory full of strong, non-compromised passwords should be an essential cybersecurity goal for every organization. A clearly articulated and enforceable password policy strategy is the best way to put this into practice. However, it’s important to tailor... Read More