Passwords provide the first line of defense against unauthorized access to your computer. The stronger your password, the more protected your computer will be from hackers and malicious software. But what is better passwords or passphrases?

Why Passphrases Beat Traditional Passwords

1. Strong Passwords: Complexity Isn’t Enough

For years, the advice was to use a mix of uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols (e.g., P@ssw0rd!). This came from early guidance that assumed complexity = stronger protection.

The problem? People responded by creating short, hard-to-remember passwords, writing them down, or reusing them across multiple accounts. Attackers now use automated tools (and massive password breach lists) that make short, complex passwords surprisingly easy to crack.

👉 ST4S expects suppliers to enforce strong authentication — but “strong” today means long, unique, and manageable, not impossible to remember.

2. Why Passphrases Work Better

A passphrase is a longer string of words (or a mix of unrelated terms) that’s easier to remember and harder to brute-force.

• Length Matters – A 16+ character passphrase is exponentially harder to crack than an 8-character “complex” password.

• Memorable, Not Guessable – Our brains are better at remembering words than random symbols. A passphrase you can recall (without writing it down) is far safer.

• Entropy Counts – Avoid quotes, lyrics, or common phrases. Instead, combine random, unrelated words.

Example: Coffee-Library!GreenTennisMoon27
– Easy to remember, hard for attackers to guess.

3. How to Create a Strong Passphrase

✅ Avoid common phrases: Don’t use famous quotes, song lyrics, or dictionary words in order.
✅ Make it unique: Blend personal but non-obvious elements (e.g., hobbies, random objects, numbers, or places).
✅ Use a password manager: Let it generate and store long passphrases for you.
✅ Turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA): Even the best passphrase is stronger with MFA.

🛑TIPS

4. Best Practices for Passphrase Use

• One passphrase = one account – never reuse across systems.

• Don’t share logins – sharing credentials weakens accountability.

• Log out when finished – especially on shared or public devices.

• Consider a password manager – for storing unique passphrases across many services. (See our article on this)

The shift from complex but short passwords to long, unique passphrases is now industry best practice. They’re easier to remember, harder to crack, and reduce risky behaviours like reuse.

For EdTech providers, adopting passphrases — along with MFA and a password manager — supports ST4S compliance and helps protect sensitive school and student data.