A strong passphrase is your first line of defence. Follow these steps to set one that protects your account.
Make it long
Length beats complexity. Use a passphrase of four or more random words, for example
coffee-tractor-violet-harbour. Aim for at least 14 characters.
Make it unique
Use a different passphrase for your Nexus account than for any personal accounts. If one site is breached, your work account stays safe.
Keep it secret
- Never share your passphrase — not even with the Service Desk. We will never ask for it.
- Don’t write it on a sticky note or store it in a plain document.
- Consider an approved password manager (ask the Service Desk).
Change it if it’s been exposed
Change your passphrase straight away if you think someone may know it, or if the Service Desk asks you to. See Resetting your password.
Turn on MFA
A passphrase is even stronger with multi-factor authentication. See Setting up multi-factor authentication.
This guide supports the IT Security & Acceptable Use policy. Read it in full on the policy page.