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How to create strong passwords you can actually remember

Insights overview

The challenge of password management is universal. The average professional juggles dozens of online accounts, each a potential entry point for security threats. This password fatigue often leads to risky shortcuts, such as using simple, easy-to-guess credentials or, even worse, reusing the same password across multiple services.

For companies and IT professionals, this represents a significant vulnerability. A single weak password within your organization can undermine even the most robust security infrastructure, exposing sensitive corporate data, customer information, and intellectual property. The consequences range from financial loss and regulatory fines to irreparable damage to your brand's reputation.

For many, the process of creating strong passwords feels like a constant battle between security and memory. The good news is that you don't have to choose one over the other. This article provides a clear, data-driven framework for creating strong passwords that are not only difficult for attackers to crack but also surprisingly easy for you and your team to remember. 

In this article 

  • The anatomy of a weak password
  • Five tips to create a strong password that's easy to remember
  • Beyond memorization: Tools and strategies for password management
  • Securing your digital world for the long term

The anatomy of a weak password

Understanding what makes a password weak is the first step toward creating a stronger defense. Weak passwords are characterized by their predictability. 

  • They are often short.
  • They use common words found in a dictionary.
  • They incorporate easily accessible personal information like birthdays, pet names, or family members' names.

These credentials are the primary target for automated cyberattacks. Hackers use techniques like brute-force attacks, which systematically try every possible combination of letters, numbers, and symbols, and dictionary attacks, which use lists of common words and phrases. A simple password like "Password123" can be cracked in less than a second using these methods.

A quick look at any list of password examples of breached credentials reveals predictable patterns. You will see sequences like "123456," keyboard patterns like "qwerty," and common names. Even some strong 8 character password examples can be weak if they rely on a single common word followed by a number and a symbol, such as "Baseball8!".

In today's hybrid work environment, the risk is amplified. As teams connect from various locations, every account becomes a potential gateway to your corporate network. This makes it essential to implement policies that go beyond minimum complexity requirements and ensure every access point is fortified, which is a core part of providing secure remote access and support.

5 tips to create a strong password that's easy to remember

The secret to a memorable and secure password isn't a random string of characters but a system. Here are five tips to create a strong password that you can actually recall without having to write it on a sticky note. The best password examples are often the ones that follow a personal, yet secure, logic.

1. Think in passphrases, not passwords

A passphrase is a sequence of words that forms a sentence or phrase. Because length is one of the most critical factors in password strength, a passphrase like "The-Gray-Cat-Sleeps-On-The-Mat!" is exponentially stronger than a short, complex password and far easier to remember.

2. Use the modified phrase method to add complexity

Start with a memorable sentence, such as "My son's first soccer game was in 2023." You can then create a password example by taking the first letter of each word and adding numbers and symbols: "Ms1stSgw@i2023." This method creates a strong password that is logically tied to a memory.

3. Be creative with your substitutions

Hackers' algorithms are well aware of common substitutions like replacing the letter "a" with an "@" symbol or "o" with the number zero. Instead, try using symbols that are less common or placing them in unexpected positions within your passphrase to make it less predictable.

4. Never use personal information

Using your name, birthdate, or address makes you an easy target for anyone who has done basic online research. 

5. Never reuse passwords

Reusing passwords across different accounts is also incredibly risky. If one account is breached, attackers will use those same credentials to try to access your other online accounts, a technique known as credential stuffing.

Beyond memorization: Tools and strategies for password management

While creating memorable passphrases is an excellent practice, the most scalable and secure solution for any organization is to move beyond human memory. Modern password management tools and strategies are designed to handle the complexity and volume of credentials required in a corporate environment.

Use password managers for secure storage

Password managers are applications built specifically to generate, store, and manage passwords in a secure, encrypted vault. Tools like ‘LastPass’, 1Password, or Bitwarden can create long, truly random passwords for every account, eliminating the need for employees to remember anything other than a single, strong master password. This approach is central to enforcing a robust security policy across an enterprise.

Understand the limits of built-in tools

Many web browsers and operating systems offer built-in password management. For example, the strong password generator Google provides in its Chrome browser can create and save unique passwords for you. While convenient for personal use, these tools often lack the centralized control, auditing features, and secure sharing capabilities that IT professionals need to manage access at an organizational level.

Strengthen defenses with multi-factor authentication (MFA)

The ultimate defense is to pair strong password practices with multi-factor authentication (MFA). MFA requires users to provide two or more verification factors to gain access to an account, such as something they know (a password), something they have (a smartphone), or something they are (a fingerprint). Even if a password is stolen, MFA acts as a critical barrier that prevents unauthorized access.

Securing your digital world for the long term

Protecting your organization's digital assets begins with foundational security practices, and creating strong passwords is one of the most impactful first steps you can take. By moving away from simple, predictable credentials and embracing longer, more complex passphrases, you build a formidable first line of defense against common cyber threats.

However, a truly resilient security posture requires a comprehensive strategy. This includes establishing clear password policies, providing regular employee training on security best practices, and deploying robust tools like password managers and multi-factor authentication. These elements work together to create a multi-layered defense system that protects your data from every angle.

Solutions like TeamViewer complement these efforts by embedding high security standards into everyday workflows. Features such as enforced multi-factor authentication, end-to-end encryption, and fine-grained access controls ensure that remote connections remain secure without sacrificing usability. By combining strong password habits with secure remote access solutions, organizations can confidently protect their digital workplace while maintaining productivity.