We are implementing an updated domain login password requirement. Going forward all new/reset/updated domain login passwords will require a 15-character password which consists of: mixed case alphanumeric and at least one special character such as !,@,#,$,%,?,+,-. The password also cannot contain any part of your domain username. This is in response to the new FTC Safeguards requirements that mandate a minimum of 14 characters for all user passwords. We have decided to utilize 15 characters, which also affords us the ability to reduce the password change requirement down to once every 12 months as opposed to our current requirement of once every 6 months.
This change will not affect your current password until such time that it is changed for any of the reasons outlined above. This single password will continue to be utilized for both your domain login to your computer as well as access to our O365 environment. All changes to domain passwords automatically sync to our O365 environment once every 30 minutes. Furthermore, should you input the password incorrectly 5 times in a row your account will be locked out for a period of 10 minutes, after which the lock will automatically be removed. Should you not be able to wait the required 10-minute interval please reach out to the IT department to have the lock manually removed.
As we fully understand the hassle associated with these more stringent requirements, they are necessary to meet government mandated regulations as well as to maintain appropriate security within our IT environment. Should you have any questions or concerns regarding this change to password requirements, please feel free to reach out to myself or any member of the IT department for further assistance. As always thank you for doing your part to help maintain the security of the organization’s technology infrastructure.