Does a VA need my password?
The answer to this depends on what you need your VA to do.
Let’s look at a couple of examples, and then we will go into more detail.
If it’s managing your inbox, you can usually add them as a delegate, so they don’t need your password.
However, if you need them to manage your LinkedIn profile, they will need your password. This is not the case for Facebook profiles, as you can add them as page admins, and they log in as themselves.
So, you see, it does depend on what you need them to do for you. It’s not a simple case of yes or no.
Most software systems allow you to add other users. This means you can control who has access and get an audit trail. This is our preferred way of working.
Sometimes, adding users can increase the cost, and I appreciate that this can be something you want to avoid, especially in the start-up phase of your business. So, to reduce this cost, you would need to share your password with your VA.
Using a password manager like LastPass (others are available) can reduce your risks. These systems allow you to share your passwords securely (and revoke the share if necessary) and generate a really secure password in the first place (i.e., NOT Password123)!
If you need to share your password, we always recommend you change it before you share it —just in case you use a similar password. I’m not saying your VA could work out the other passwords and try to access your other systems, but hackers and cybercriminals find it very easy to do this, so make it harder for them!
If you are unsure whether you need to share a password, we are happy to advise and will consider all available options.
