Password guidelines

Use this guide to create complex passwords, protect passwords and manage password changes. When you access Saskatchewan Polytechnic IT resources, you are responsible for taking the appropriate steps, as outlined below, to select and secure your passwords. Review the How to manage your password and account article to make changes to your Sask Polytech account without assistance from the Service Desk.

Passwords identify the user and allow authorized access to IT resources to that user. Poorly chosen passwords or ineffective password practices may compromise the Saskatchewan Polytechnic network.

Password guidelines

1. Do not use the same password for Sask Polytech accounts as for other non-Sask Polytech access such as a personal email account.
2. Avoid using the same password for multiple Sask Polytech accounts.
3. Avoid using a password pattern, reuse of old passwords or simply adding numbers to the end of a current password.

Password golden rules

• It is your responsibility to protect your password.
• Never reveal your password over the phone or through any electronic form to anyone including your supervisor, co-workers or family members.
• Do not write your password down or store it anywhere in your office.
• Do not store passwords in any mobile or smart device without the use of proper encryption technology.
• Do not use the "Remember Password" feature of applications (e.g., web pages).
• Lock your workstation or use a screen-saver password when you leave for short periods. Use Windows key +L to lock your workstation.
• Log off or restart your computer at the end of the day and when leaving for extended periods. Leave your computer turned on to allow updates to occur as scheduled.

Password requirements

Complex and contains characters from at least three of these categories:

• Unicode characters (for example: €, Γ, or λ)
• Symbols (for example: !, $, #, or %)
• Numbers (base 10 digits 0-9)
• English lowercase characters (a-z)
• English uppercase characters (A-Z)

Does not contain:

• Your username or part of your name
• Any of the above spelled backwards
• Patterns like aaabbb, qwerty, zyxwvuts, 123321, etc.
• Acronyms from any field
• Birthdays and other personal information such as addresses and phone numbers
• Names of family, pets, friends, co-workers, fantasy characters, etc.
• Any word found in a dictionary (English or foreign)

Remember your password

Use these tips to create passwords that are easier for you to remember:

• Combine 2-3 short words to create “pass phrases” to make it more memorable then add symbols or numbers within your pass phrases. Choose people or events that are on your mind.
• Create a password based on a song title, affirmation or other phrase
• Use something funny or unique to you.
• Use numbers or symbols to represent the letters they are replacing
• Use your password immediately and use it frequently; avoid changing your password on Friday or just before you leave on vacation.

Related articles

See Changing or resetting your password for more information. To view all your sign in options please see Your options to sign in to Sask Polytech and Changing your Sask Polytech multi-factor authentication sign-in options.