Sharing login credentials (usernames, passwords, API keys, SSH keys, etc.) is one of the most common yet dangerous security anti-patterns in organizations. It dramatically increases the risk of compromise, makes auditing impossible, and violates virtually every compliance framework (NIST, ISO 27001, CIS, PCI-DSS, SOC 2, etc.). Administrators who allow or participate in credential sharing are effectively creating a single point of failure that can lead to data breaches, ransomware, regulatory fines, and reputational damage.
The secure, scalable solution is simple: every person (and every service) must have their own individual account with the minimum privileges required for their role.
Key Reasons Sharing Credentials is Dangerous
- Loss of Accountability (“Who Did What?”): When multiple people use the same account, audit logs cannot attribute actions to a specific individual. In case of an incident (malicious or accidental), you cannot prove who performed a damaging action. This destroys non-repudiation and makes internal investigations or forensic analysis nearly impossible.
- Amplified Impact of a Single Compromise: If one person’s laptop, phone, or personal email is compromised (phishing, malware, lost device), the attacker immediately gains access to everything that shared account can do. One weak or reused password = total compromise of the shared account.
- Password Reuse and Poor Hygiene Become Catastrophic: People reuse passwords across personal and work accounts. If a shared password is exposed in an unrelated breach (e.g., LinkedIn, Dropbox, gaming site), attackers will try it everywhere — including your shared admin account. Shared credentials are rarely rotated properly because “it would lock everyone out.”
- Insider Threat and Offboarding Nightmares: When an employee, contractor, or partner leaves, you cannot reliably disable their access if they know a shared password. Disgruntled insiders (or former insiders) retain access indefinitely.
- Violation of Least Privilege: Shared accounts are almost always over-privileged (“everyone needs admin”). Every user of that account inherits the maximum permissions, even if they only need read access.
- Regulatory and Compliance Penalties: Virtually every regulation and framework explicitly requires individual accountability:
- NIST 800-53: AC-2 (Account Management), IA-2 (Identification and Authentication)
- ISO 27001: A.9.2.3 (Management of privileged access rights)
- PCI-DSS Requirement 8: Unique IDs and accountability
- SOC 2: CC6.1–CC6.3 (Logical access controls)
- Auditors will flag shared credentials as a critical finding.
- Third-Party and Supply-Chain Risk: Vendors or contractors often request shared credentials “for convenience.” This gives external parties permanent keys to your kingdom and makes vendor risk management impossible.
Real-World Consequences (Examples)
Target 2013 breach: Attackers stole network credentials from a third-party HVAC vendor who has been given overly broad access.
SolarWinds 2020 supply-chain attack: Shared or weakly protected service accounts were abused.
Numerous ransomware incidents trace back to shared local admin or domain admin passwords.
Recommended Practice: Individual Accounts + Proper Controls
Every human and non-human identity must have:
- A unique account tied to their identity ([email protected] or service-specific)
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA/2FA) enforced everywhere possible
- Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) or Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) with least privilege (just enough permissions to do their job)
Action Items for Account Administrators
- Immediately inventory all shared accounts (admin, root, service accounts, etc.).
- Create individual accounts for every person who currently uses a shared credential.
- Implement MFA on every account — no exceptions.
- Train staff: “Never ask for or share passwords — if someone needs access, create them an account with appropriate rights.”
Bottom Line
Sharing credentials is not a shortcut — it is a ticking time bomb. The minor inconvenience of managing individual accounts is vastly outweighed by the catastrophic risk of sharing them.
Security is a team sport, but every player needs their own jersey. Stop sharing credentials today.