It’s a common workplace requirement: change your passwords every 90 days. But this practice may be counterproductive — and it’s increasingly being abandoned by the organizations that defined modern security standards.
The Problem with Forced Password Changes
Major technology organizations, including Microsoft and NIST (the National Institute of Standards and Technology), have begun discouraging mandatory password expiration policies. While the concept seems reasonable on the surface, the real-world effects often undermine the very security they’re meant to improve.
When users must frequently change passwords, predictable behaviors emerge:
- People write passwords on sticky notes placed near their workstations
- Users make minimal modifications to existing passwords (changing “monkey1” to “monkey2”)
- Some employees change passwords only to immediately revert them
The reality is that most attackers exploit compromised credentials immediately rather than waiting. Mandatory expiration policies generate inconvenience without meaningful security gains.
Better Alternatives
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) A compromised password becomes nearly useless without a second authentication factor — especially a physical security key. MFA is one of the single highest-impact security measures any organization can implement.
Single Sign-On (SSO) Consolidating multiple credentials into one reduces password management burden and allows users to focus on protecting fewer, more critical passwords.
Password Managers These tools enable creation and management of strong, unique passwords for every account — without requiring users to memorize them or write them down.
When You Should Change Your Password
Password changes are absolutely warranted when a compromise is suspected. Tools like Have I Been Pwned help identify whether your credentials have appeared in known breaches. When a breach is confirmed, change that password — and any others where you reused it.
Want help implementing MFA or a password management solution for your team? Contact us.