HCS research finds that 83% of office workers in Ireland admit to reusing passwords repeatedly

HCS, a leading IT, cybersecurity, and digital transformation services company,has announced the results of new research which found that 83% of office workers in Ireland admit to using the same passwords across multiple accounts. Almost one-fifth (19%) of those surveyed say that they re-use the same password for all work and personal logins such as email accounts, device logins, and websites.

The research of 503 office workers in Ireland was carried out by Censuswide on behalf of HCS, with the support of Fortinet, a global leader driving the evolution of cybersecurity and the convergence of networking and security. It found that 89% of those who say they re-use passwords admit to having access to company data that they shouldn’t have.

The survey also found that many office workers are choosing insecure ways to store their passwords, with 18% saying they have written work-related passwords down on paper, such as a sticky note or in a notebook. A quarter (25%) keep them saved on a personal or work device in an unprotected or unencrypted document, while 49% memorise passwords and don’t physically keep them anywhere. Additionally, 21% store them in a secure password management app.

When it comes to password strength, some office workers are more predictable than others. Some 10% admit that they have chosen a basic or easy-to-guess work-related password, while just over one-in-ten (11%) say they use passwords that feature the name of their pet, a family name, or something relating to their favourite sport.

The survey also uncovered the risk that employees’ personal devices pose to sensitive company information. Over a fifth (21%) of office workers have stored confidential company information or emails on a personal device or personal cloud account, while a quarter (25%) have access to work emails or documents on a personal device such as a phone or tablet. A third (33%) of those surveyed are automatically logged into some or all of their work-related accounts, such email accounts, meaning they don’t need to enter their password each time.

When asked about the security measures that they have in place when accessing work-related accounts, 47% of office workers use two-factor or multi-factor authentication. Meanwhile, some office workers are less concerned about data security, with just 57% of those surveyed admitting that they lock their computer screen when they step away from their desk.

Dan Hegarty, Head of Sales, HCS, said: “These findings underscore the critical need for robust password practices that are backed up and continuously reinforced by organisations. The prevalence of password reuse and insecure storage methods highlight the importance of proactive measures such as strong, unique passwords and secure password management to safeguard company data.Passwords are often the first point of defence for organisations, and if a password is weak or compromised, this puts the integrity and security of company data at risk.

“The research also raises concerns about access control, and it’s vital that organisations have full visibility over who has access to what data within the business. While it’s positive that organisations are embracing digital tools, there are clear gaps in best practices that must be addressed in order to truly succeed in today’s digital landscape.”

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