A password manager is a computer program that is used to store a large number of username/password pairs. The database where this information is stored is encrypted by a single key so that the user only has to memorize one key to access all the others. This makes it easier to manage passwords and encourages users to choose complex keys without fear that they won’t be able to remember them later.
The user, thus freed from the constraint of remembering his different passwords, can also afford to choose more complicated (and therefore more robust ones) and to have a different password for each account or each document (so that if one of the passwords is intercepted, the other accounts or documents are not made vulnerable).
This article is basically about password wallets, but for the business need. That means there is at least one owner and one staff. As there is a staff, the need for regulation and security is more. We already know that while BYOD adds various advantages, it does increase susceptibility to hacking attempts. And since the present time is about “work from home”, we need to think about the solutions which provide an enterprise-grade solution at an affordable price.
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Why Not Use the Web Browser Password Managers?
Web browsers also offer password management, but passwords are usually stored unencrypted. Passwords stored unencrypted in the browser can be easily stolen as soon as a third party has access to the user’s computer and represent a security gap.
Basic Technical Facts
The security of the password manager depends on several parameters:
- The robustness of the chosen master key
- The security of the encryption algorithm used
- The quality of the application source code
- How to store the key when the user requests it
The existence of viruses or other malware on the computer. The strength of the master key and the password manager is of little use if you have a keylogger installed.
It should be noted that some password managers store the password in clear text in the computer’s memory, so that there is a possibility that it is stolen by a parasitic program, such as a Trojan. Types of password managers may be:
- Locally installed software
- Self-hosted software on a server
- Online service (SaaS)
- Locally accessed hardware
Password management collects the passwords centrally, which means that the password database is stored in a single file, in its format. Since this file is encrypted by the master password, it can be duplicated and saved on another data carrier. For cloud providers, the password database is stored in the cloud.
Best Password Managers for Business in 2022
To find alternatives and get users’ opinions, we have searched G2, Capterra and finally read the documentation on the official websites. As we are talking about business usage and all business are not the same, we suggest reading our brief description and doing a little bit of research.
Passwork: Passwork is best for Internet SMB, Internet involved companies, IT departments, web developers, web studios. As Passwork matches the need of our business segment, we thoroughly checked the features offered by this software. The on-premise/self-hosted version costs a one time charge of $480. But in case you have 1-2 staff (and a limited budget), then you may try their cloud version, which will cost you $1.5 per user per month.
This is one of the feature-rich software with a nice UI. It supports almost all the operating systems except Google Chromebook.
Keeper Business: Our next choice is Keeper Business. It is not a niche targeted software. The cost of Keeper Business is $3.75 per user per month. Keeper Business does not support Linux, which may be a bottleneck for some businesses. Of course, Keeper Business is costlier than Passwork.
LastPass: LastPass offers one thing more than the previous two – in-person training. It is also not a niche targeted software with a price tag of $48 per user per year. It does not support Linux operating system.
1Password: This software is not designed especially for business but it is used in business. $7.99/person/month is the cost of using 1Password. 1Password is one of the well-known software in the segment with a wide user base. 1Password supports almost all operating systems.
Beyond Identity : They have customers in the finance, healthcare, gaming, retail, and education niche. Beyond Identity is mentioned in this list since it is the highest rated by the customers. It does not support on-premise Windows or Linux operating systems. We neither could not find any information around pricing nor there is any review by the users on Capterra.
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Conclusion
Remember that it is not easy to switch from one password manager to another. For this reason, you probably should invest time testing the trial versions.
The five software we have mentioned above is chosen by rating and reviews of their users. We found that this five offer quite similar features and each of them are a quality product.
