Okay, all cards on the table – I don’t have a degree in IT (Information Technology), so the things that I share with you are from my experience over 10 years of working with folks on their computers. I think this fact actually helps me to better serve you because I’m not trained in all the technical lingo of how our devices run. I come to you from a “user” standpoint, and I communicate from that place instead of from an “all-knowing technician” view.

That said, I wanted to talk to you today about how secure your devices are. This has become top-of-mind as several of my clients have been implementing password managers and backup strategies with me over the last few weeks. Here is a link to a blog where you can learn all about physical backups, but let me give you a quick note about password managers here.

Password managers are programs that manage your passwords (imagine that! Hah!) At first, I was leary of using them because I was concerned about one program having all of my passwords. However, after watching folks use them for a few years and extensive discussions with colleagues, I am now a big proponent of password managers. What helped me change my mind was the fact that all these companies do is security. They don’t focus on anything else except keeping you and your passwords safe. Thus, password managers have some of the best security around.

And, oh my goodness, the benefits of using a password manager are huge! No more scraps of paper everywhere, no more lost passwords, no more second-guessing yourself, no more reusing the same password over and over, the option to generate secure passwords, and the list goes on. If you’re not sure which companies to trust, here are a few that I would recommend: LastPass, Dashlane, or 1Password. No matter which one you choose, I would recommend paying for an account because you are more likely to get better customer service with a paid account, and there are additional security benefits included. The cost is extremely reasonable – usually under $50/year.