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Password managers keep your logins in an encrypted vault so you don’t need to reuse weak passwords. They generate unique, complex credentials, autofill logins, and offer controls for teams to share and rotate secrets securely.
It’s software that stores credentials securely and eliminates password reuse. Use one to reduce breach risk, speed logins, and centralize access controls for teams.
They encrypt vault data and rely on a master password only you know; without that key, stored passwords are unreadable. Added protections like MFA, biometric unlocks, and hardware tokens strengthen that defense.
Focus on end-to-end encryption, MFA, audit logs, provisioning (SCIM), and fine-grained sharing controls. These features support governance, compliance, and fast incident response.
For individuals, built-in browser managers can be acceptable; for organizations, they usually lack policy controls, central auditing, and secure sharing capabilities.
Autofill boosts usability and discourages reuse, but choose a manager that limits autofill to exact domains and requires user confirmation. This reduces the risk of credential leakage to spoofed sites.
Use per-user vaults for personal logins and shared vaults for team/service credentials; enforce least privilege and rotate shared secrets regularly.
Password managers complement SSO by covering services SSO can’t reach and store fallback credentials securely; MFA remains essential to stop compromises if a password is exposed.
Secure sharing avoids insecure channels like email by using encrypted vaults, access expiry, and delegation features that grant temporary access without revealing the secret.
Start with policy definitions, run a pilot, onboard in stages with training, and use provisioning integrations to automate user lifecycle management.
Don’t rely on defaults—enforce MFA, avoid storing credentials in plain documents, require rotation for service accounts, and maintain audit trails and emergency access plans.
They reduce credential theft by refusing to autofill on mismatched domains and by integrating with phishing-resistant auth flows, but they’re one part of a multi-layered defense.
Evaluate solutions based on encryption, MFA, SSO/provisioning support, sharing, reporting, vendor transparency, and total cost of ownership; pilot before full rollout.
The master password unlocks your vault and should be long, unique, and never reused; it’s the only one you must remember.
Cloud-based managers can be secure when they use zero-knowledge encryption and strong MFA; review vendor audits and transparency before trusting sensitive credentials.
Yes—most managers import saved browser passwords or migrate from other tools to simplify transition.
Rotate high-privilege and service credentials regularly—commonly every 30–90 days depending on risk and automation.
Revoke access through provisioning, reset shared credentials they used, and inspect audit logs for unusual activity.
For more guidance on selecting and implementing password management tools, visit Palisade.
