Cis Gworkspace 4.1.5.1

4.1.5.1 Ensure password policy is configured for enhanced security

Profile Applicability

• Enterprise Level 1

Description

Configure Google Workspace Password Policy with a more secure length and is enforced upon next sign-in to protect against the use of common password attacks.

Rationale

Strong password policies protect an organization by prohibiting the use of weak passwords.

Impact

The potential impact associated with implementation of this setting is dependent upon the existing password policies in place in the environment. For environments that have strong password policies in place, the impact will be minimal. For organizations that do not have strong password policies in place, enhancing the password policy may require users to change passwords, and adhere to more stringent requirements than they have been accustomed to.

Configuring passwords to expire at a 1 year mark ensures that users are not forced to change passwords so often that easily discerned patterns are used in the creation of the passwords. The day-to-day impact on users will be that they have to manage fewer passwords changing on a frequent basis.

NOTE: Password should be changed immediately on any indication of system compromise, when a user role changes, and when a user leaves the organization.

Audit

To verify this setting via the Google Workspace Admin Console:

1. Log in to https://admin.google.com as an administrator
2. Select Security
3. Select Password management
4. Under Strength, ensure Enforce strong passwords is checked
5. Under Length, ensure Minimum Length is set to 14+
6. Under Strength and Length enforcement, ensure Enforce password policy at next sign-in is set to checked
7. Under Reuse, ensure Allow password reuse is unchecked
8. Under Expiration, ensure Password reset frequency is set to 365 Days

Remediation

To configure this setting via the Google Workspace Admin Console:

1. Log in to https://admin.google.com as an administrator
2. Select Security
3. Select Password management
4. Under Strength, set Enforce strong passwords to checked
5. Under Length, set Minimum Length to 14 or greater
6. Under Strength and Length enforcement, set Enforce password policy at next sign-in is checked
7. Under Reuse, set Allow password reuse to unchecked
8. Under Expiration, set Password reset frequency to 365 Days
9. Select Save

Default Value

• Enforce strong password is checked
• Minimum length is 8
• Maximum length is 100
• Enforce password policy at next sign-in is not checked
• Allow password reuse is not checked
• Expiration is Never expires

CIS Controls