Certified - CompTIA Server+

Password policies form the first line of defense in identity and access management. Despite the growth of alternative authentication methods, passwords remain one of the most widely used ways to control access to servers, applications, and management interfaces. Weak passwords, predictable patterns, or reused credentials continue to be major causes of breaches. Effective password policies define how passwords are created, how long they remain valid, and how systems respond to misuse. For the Server Plus certification, administrators are expected to enforce password rules that reduce risk without sacrificing operational functionality.
Strong password policies must balance security requirements with practical usability. Overly complex rules may encourage users to write passwords down or reuse similar ones across systems. In contrast, rules that are too lenient allow for passwords that can be easily guessed, cracked, or harvested from previous breaches. Multifactor authentication can help ease this tradeoff by allowing some flexibility in password length or rotation while still maintaining strong access controls.
A good password policy begins with minimum length requirements. Longer passwords are exponentially harder to brute-force or guess. A twelve-character minimum is now widely accepted as the baseline for standard accounts, with longer requirements for administrative or privileged roles. Server platforms should be configured to reject blank, default, or single-character passwords, and audits must ensure that minimum length settings are actively enforced across all login endpoints.
Complexity requirements add another layer of protection by ensuring that passwords contain a variety of character types. This typically includes uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Complexity rules should prevent passwords that include personal information or easily guessed words. However, administrators must be careful not to create rules that force hard-to-remember combinations, as this can result in insecure behavior such as writing passwords down or rotating through obvious patterns.
Password history and reuse prevention protect against the habit of cycling through a small number of favorite passwords. Systems should be configured to remember at least five to twenty-four previous passwords and block their reuse. This forces users to create new, unique passwords at each change interval. These settings are built into most operating systems and directory services and should be enabled by default as part of account provisioning and security baselines.
Expiration policies define how often users must change their passwords. A typical expiration window is ninety days, but the right interval depends on organizational policy, user behavior, and the use of other controls like multifactor authentication. Overly frequent password changes can frustrate users and lead to weaker habits, such as appending numbers to old passwords. When combined with MFA, expiration policies can often be extended without reducing overall security.
Lockout thresholds are used to defend against brute-force or guessing attacks. When a user fails to enter the correct password after a defined number of attempts—often three to ten—the account is temporarily locked. Lockouts can last a few minutes or require administrator intervention. Systems should be tuned to strike a balance between blocking attacks and minimizing disruptions caused by accidental lockouts. Alerts should be triggered when thresholds are exceeded to detect automated attacks or user confusion.
First login and temporary password rules are used during onboarding or password resets. Temporary passwords must be set to expire quickly and require the user to change the password at first login. This prevents a temporary credential from becoming a permanent vulnerability. Many organizations automate this process using scripting or directory tools to enforce first-use expiration and capture the time of successful credential changes for audit records.
Secure storage and transmission of passwords are fundamental requirements for any access control system. Passwords should never be stored in plain text, hardcoded into scripts, or displayed in logs. Instead, password data must be stored using salted and hashed encryption—commonly using SHA-256 with a unique salt for each record. Password transmission must be protected using secure channels such as Transport Layer Security or Secure Shell. Administrative consoles and login screens must also avoid exposing passwords in clear text or through insecure user interfaces.
Administrative and service accounts require stricter password rules than standard user accounts. These accounts often have elevated privileges or persistent access to critical systems. Passwords for these accounts must be longer, rotated more frequently, and protected with multifactor authentication. Service account credentials should be unique to each system or service and never reused across domains. All changes to privileged account credentials must be documented and monitored for signs of misuse.
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Users must be taught how to create strong passwords and understand the risks associated with poor credential habits. Training programs should include guidance on avoiding predictable patterns, recognizing phishing attempts, and using password managers to store credentials securely. Employees should be reminded that passwords should never include their name, birthdate, or company-specific terms. Security awareness programs must reinforce these messages regularly to prevent complacency and support policy compliance.
Password blacklists and dictionary checks prevent users from selecting weak or compromised passwords. These blacklists typically block known bad examples such as “Password123,” “Admin!,” or any value found in recent breach data. Administrators can enforce blacklist checks through directory policies or third-party tools. Lists must be updated regularly to include newly exposed credentials and should be enforced at both account creation and password reset stages.
Organizations must monitor for compromised credentials using internal tools or third-party services that scan breach data or dark web markets. If a user’s password appears in a leak, an alert should trigger an immediate reset and investigation. Some security platforms integrate with breach detection services to provide real-time monitoring. These detection events must be logged for follow-up, and administrators must verify that the affected credentials are no longer in use anywhere else in the environment.
Password reset procedures must be secure and verifiable. Allowing users to reset their passwords using weak validation methods, such as personal questions or email alone, introduces new risks. Instead, password resets should require identity verification through a secondary method, such as a one-time code sent via a trusted device or administrator approval. Secure reset processes reduce the likelihood of unauthorized changes or social engineering attacks.
Password policies must be formally documented and reviewed on a recurring schedule. Written policies define the rules for password creation, reuse, rotation, and storage. They should explain the rationale behind each rule and clearly define the scope of systems covered. Policy documents should be reviewed annually, updated to reflect changes in risk or technology, and made available to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Logs of each policy review must be retained for compliance audits.
As organizations modernize authentication, some are adopting passwordless methods such as FIDO2 keys, smart cards, or biometric authentication. These technologies reduce or eliminate the need for traditional passwords, improving both security and user experience. Passwordless authentication may not be feasible for all users or systems, but it can be rolled out in high-security areas or phased in for accounts with privileged access. Compatibility and support must be evaluated carefully before deployment.
Compliance testing ensures that password policies are not only defined but also enforced. Administrators should run scans or manual reviews to verify that password rules are being followed across all systems and directories. These tests may include checking for default passwords, blank entries, or noncompliant expiration settings. Login attempts and alert logs should be reviewed regularly to detect potential violations. Systems found to be out of compliance must be remediated and retested.
Password policies form the foundation of account-level access control. They define how credentials are created, validated, stored, and expired. Without effective enforcement, even the best system architecture can be undermined by poor user behavior or weak authentication practices. In the next episode, we will examine access control models—specifically role-based, rule-based, and scope-based approaches—and how they are applied to user permissions and system resources.