Apricorn comments on World Password Day

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In an era where digital security is paramount, combining strong password practices with hardware-based encryption is becoming essential to staying one step ahead of cyber threats.  We talk to Jon Fielding, Managing Director, EMEA, Apricorn about the importance of encrypted USB drives.

“Weak password practices remain one of the easiest ways for attackers to gain access, yet many organizations still fail to enforce strong password policies, leaving a basic gap in their defences.”

“Where policies are in place, the focus should be on strength rather than frequent changes, and while password managers have helped tackle reuse by generating unique credentials, they also need to be secured properly with a strong master password and multi-factor authentication.”

“Crucially, organizations must ensure this is overseen on all devices, and removable media remains a major blind spot.  USB drives and external hard disks often fall outside standard controls.  Encrypting them with access only available with a password that can be configured in line with corporate policy ensures sensitive data remains secure if devices are lost or stolen.  The shift now is towards always-on, hardware-based encryption combined with tighter device control policies, ensuring that sensitive data remains protected even if devices are lost, stolen or connected to untrusted systems.  In fact, our 2025 survey indicated a growing maturity in the adoption of encryption, with 94 per cent of organisations now having a defined data encryption strategy or policy for removable media, which works in tandem with password protection.”

“While alternatives such as biometrics and passkeys gain ground, passwords will continue to play a key role, strengthened by measures like multi-factor authentication and zero trust.”