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Password/Passphrase Requirements

Owned by Frank Gonzales
Last updated: Mar 11, 2024 by Frank Gonzales
2 min read

 To log in to your Cal Poly account, our systems require you to select either a password or passphrase.

Visit Password Help if you can't log in to your Cal Poly account.

Consider using a longer and more memorable passphrase, instead of a short/complex password that is hard to remember. This involves combining multiple words into a long string of at least 16 characters. The extra length of a passphrase makes it harder to crack while also making it easier for you to remember.

(Use of passphrases are recommended over passwords according to recent cyber security professional findings; source - fbi.gov)

What are the requirements for a Passphrase?

Character Length:

  • Minimum length = 16 characters 

  • Maximum length = 40 characters

CAN INCLUDE any of the following special characters:

! $ % & , ( ) * + - . / ; : < = > ? [ \ ] ^ _ { | } ~ and spaces.

What are the requirements for a Password?

Character Length:

  • Minimum length = 8 characters

    Maximum length = 15 characters

MUST CONTAIN at least one (1) character from three (3) of the following: 

  • Uppercase letters (A-Z) 

  • Lowercase letters (a-z) 

  • Numbers (0-9) 

  • Any of the following special characters: ! $ % & , ( ) * + - . / ; : < = > ? [ \ ] ^ _ { | } ~

Passwords that are less than twelve (12) characters SHOULD NOT CONTAIN any of the following:

  • Any words of 3 or more characters, including non-English words

  • Any groups of 3 or more characters of the same character type

  • Any names, persons, places, or things found in a common dictionary

  • Any of your names (first, middle, last) or any current Cal Poly username

  • Any previous Cal Poly Portal passwords used within the last two (2) years

  • Repetitive characters (sequences)

After you reset your password/passphrase, don’t forget to update your old password/passphrase anywhere it may be saved to prevent a temporary lock on your Cal Poly account, including:

  • All devices including desktops, laptops, and mobile devices (phones, tablets, etc.) If you have a state macOS computer, learn how to update the device password.

  • Email programs

  • Wi-Fi settings

  • Password managers

  • Web browsers

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