Create a new archive key password

Last updated
Save as PDF

Who is this article for?

Incydr risk agent

Backup and legacy agents

Not sure which agent type you have? See the Organizations screen in the Code42 console.

Instructor, no.

Incydr Professional, Enterprise, Horizon, and Gov F2, no.

Incydr Basic, Advanced, and Gov F1, yes.

Overview

Administrators can require that all Code42 agents in the environment use archive key passwords. When the administrator pushes that setting to existing devices, or when new devices first sign in, Code42 agents prompt users to create their passwords. This article describes how to respond to that prompt and how to use archive key passwords.

For details, see Archive Encryption Key Security.

Create new archive key password

Before you begin

Understand the purpose of the archive key password

An archive key password is one available archive encryption key security option.

A backup archive holds encrypted data from your device. To restore data from the archive, the Code42 agent copies it to your device, then decrypts it so you can read it.

The encryption key is a random string of characters used to encrypt and decrypt your data. Standard Code42 security stores that key in the Code42 cloud.

Your archive key password secures your archive encryption key. No one but you knows your archive key password. Therefore, only you can decrypt the data stored in your backup archive.

A recovery question is a memory aid. If you define a question, and remember the answer, you can recover from forgetting your password.

Considerations

Password applies to all your devices

If you forget your password

Recovery question

You can optionally create a recovery question that lets you reset your archive key password in the event that you lose or forget it. A recovery question reduces the risk of being unable to restore your files. However, it increases the risk of someone bypassing your archive key password.

Steps

Create an archive key password

When an administrator sets your Code42 environment to require archive key passwords, the Create new archive key password dialog opens the next time you sign in to the Code42 agent. (If your Code42 agent is open at the time of the change, you will be prompted to sign in again.)

Enter, and then confirm, an archive key password.
- Passwords must be at least 8 characters. For stronger security, use 16 characters or more.
- Passwords must have at least one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, and one number. Special characters and symbols are also allowed.
- Passwords can't contain spaces or 3 or more repeating letters, numbers, or characters.
- Passwords shouldn't contain common words or phrases that are easily guessed (like "password" or "letmein").
- Never reuse passwords. Don't use a password for Code42 that you use for any other online account.
(Optional) Enter a recovery question and answer. This question and answer is used to reset your archive key password in the event you lose or forget it.
Your question and answer may include any combination of capital or lower-case letters, numerals, symbols, and spaces.
Click OK.

Use your archive key password

The next time you download files, the Code42 agent will prompt you to enter the archive key password you just created.

You may change your archive key password at any time.