Author: Chase Snyder, Sr. PMM, Xage Security

For both enterprise IT and operational technology (OT) environments, regular password rotation is a foundational measure to protect against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. Furthermore with the rise of credential-based attacks and the ever-present risk of data breaches, organizations that fail to prioritize password rotation for critical assets leave themselves exposed to risk.

By enabling a robust password rotation strategy across IT, OT, and cloud environments, businesses can not only mitigate these risks but also strengthen their overall security posture, ensuring the protection of sensitive information and maintaining operational integrity.Password rotation may seem like an obvious, table-stakes action for cybersecurity. However, since stolen credentials continue to be in the top three most effective initial intrusion methods for cyberattackers, per Verizon DBIR 2024, it seems that stale passwords are still an issue worth considering.

Key Requirements for Effective Password Rotation

A successful password rotation strategy must be comprehensive, addressing several key requirements:

Regularity and Frequency: Establishing a clear policy for regular password rotation is crucial to minimize exposure to security breaches. The frequency of password changes should be carefully balanced to avoid operational disruptions while still providing robust protection.

Complexity Standards: Passwords must adhere to stringent complexity requirements to thwart brute force attacks. This includes creating strong and unique passwords that are difficult to guess.

Automated Credential Management: Relying on manual password rotation introduces risks of inconsistency and human error. Automated solutions ensure that password changes are systematically and securely implemented, reducing administrative overhead and enhancing security.

Audit and Compliance: Regular audits are essential to ensure compliance with both internal policies and external regulations. An effective audit mechanism helps identify vulnerabilities in password security and provides actionable insights for improvement.

Cross-System Synchronization: For organizations with both IT and OT environments, synchronizing password rotation across all systems is vital. This ensures consistent security measures and prevents potential gaps that could be exploited by attackers.

Secure Password Storage: Of course, it doesn’t matter how frequently passwords are rotated if they’re getting transmitted in plaintext or accidently stored somewhere publicly accessible. Part of a strong password rotation strategy is pairing it with secure storage like a password vault.

Challenges in Implementing Password Rotation

While the benefits of password rotation are clear, implementing this practice across diverse IT and OT environments presents several challenges:

Operational Disruptions: Frequent password changes can disrupt operations, which is particularly important in OT environments where downtime can have significant consequences. Careful planning is required to minimize these disruptions while maintaining security.

User Resistance: Users often resist frequent password changes due to the perceived inconvenience. This resistance can lead to poor password practices, such as using weak passwords or reusing old ones. Education and training are crucial to overcoming this challenge, as is the implementation of user-friendly security measures.

Legacy Systems: Many legacy systems, especially in OT environments, may not support modern password rotation practices. Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), Remote Terminal Units (RTUs) and other industrial control systems are built to last, and use different protocols than much of IT. Their age and fundamental differences in functionality introduce challenges. Integrating these systems with contemporary security solutions can be complex, requiring a tailored approach to ensure compatibility and effectiveness.

Integration with Existing Security Tools: Ensuring seamless integration of password rotation policies with existing security infrastructure, such as privileged access management (PAM) systems, is essential. A robust management solution is needed to coordinate these efforts and maintain a unified security framework. Xage enables central management of privileges and access across multiple zones, sites, and Identity Providers (IdPs), simplifying access while enhancing security.

Balancing Security and Usability: The challenge of balancing security with usability is a constant in cybersecurity. While complex passwords are essential for security, they can be difficult for users to remember, leading to potential vulnerabilities. Striking the right balance is key to effective password management.

Cyberattack Tactics Prevented and Cyber Risks Mitigated

A well-implemented password rotation strategy is a powerful defense against various cyberattack tactics and can mitigate several risks:

Mitigating Brute Force Attacks (MITRE T1110): Regular password changes reduce the chances of successful brute force attacks, as attackers have less time to guess or crack a password.

Preventing Credential Stuffing (MITRE T1110.004): Credential stuffing attacks, a sub-technique of brute force attacks, where attackers use compromised passwords obtained from other breaches, are less effective when passwords are regularly rotated. This practice helps reduce the risk of unauthorized access to critical systems.

Reducing Insider Threats: Regular password rotation is an effective way to limit the damage potential from insider threats. By continuously updating credentials, organizations can prevent former employees or malicious insiders from exploiting outdated access.

Minimizing Lateral Movement (MITRE ATT&CK T0008) : In OT environments, password rotation limits an attacker’s ability to move laterally within the network, reducing the chances of a single compromised password leading to widespread damage. Lateral movement is an attack tactic used in almost every ransomware attack, often using stolen Valid Accounts (MITRE T-1078). Rotating passwords makes it harder for attackers to succeed against you.

Protecting Against Compromised Passwords: Even if a password is compromised, regular rotation ensures that it has a limited lifespan, minimizing the window of opportunity for attackers to exploit it. This proactive approach significantly enhances overall password security.

How Xage Delivers Automated Password Rotation

Xage Security offers a cutting-edge solution that automates password rotation across both IT and OT environments, addressing many of the challenges associated with manual password management. As demonstrated in the video embedded below, Xage’s platform delivers automatic credential rotation with every login, ensuring that passwords are always up-to-date and secure. Password rotation is one small but critical capability of the Xage Zero Trust Access product, which enables secure remote access, asset protection, and breach prevention across the entire enterprise.

The process is seamless: When a user logs into a system, Xage automatically negotiates new credentials for that session, without the user ever knowing the actual password. When they log out, the account is deactivated and the credentials change again.

This innovative approach eliminates the risk associated with password reuse or accidental exposure. Even if a password were compromised, it would be rendered useless by the time an attacker attempts to use it. The video above specifically depicts credential rotation on the endpoint itself, not Active Directory domain credentials. This minimizes the presence of active local credentials on the device, reducing the risk of even a physically present attacker at the workstation being able to access it.

Xage’s solution is also highly adaptable, integrating with a variety of authentication methods, including Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) authenticator apps, biometric methods, FIDO keys, and others. The platform does not allow SMS-based MFA since that method has proven vulnerable to MFA bypass techniques such as SIM-swapping. The platform ensures that credentials are securely rotated and stored, effectively reducing the risk of data breaches and safeguarding sensitive information across both enterprise IT and cyber-physical systems

By automating these critical security processes, Xage not only simplifies password management but also strengthens overall security by eliminating potential human errors and ensuring that all passwords adhere to best practices.

Don’t Overlook Password Rotation As Part of a Privileged Access Management (PAM) Strategy

In an era where cyber threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated, password rotation stands out as a fundamental defense mechanism in both enterprise IT and OT environments. Enforcing regular password rotation is essential for preventing unauthorized access, protecting against data breaches, and ensuring the security of sensitive information.

Xage Security’s automated solution makes it easier than ever to implement an effective password rotation strategy, addressing the challenges of manual password management and ensuring that all credentials are secure and up to date. By leveraging Xage’s platform, organizations can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access, protect against data breaches, and maintain the integrity of their systems.