Change passwords on a regular basis

• You should change the root password's on your servers on a regular basis.
• The password should be a minimum of five characters wide or longer.
• The passwords should include numbers and alphabetical characters along with special characters as allowed by the operating system.
• Do not write down your passwords.
• If you must write them down, seal them in an envelope you can keep within a physical safe for emergency use only.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This document is based on FreeBSD. The concepts should be similar across operating systems, but the commands will very likely be different. Also, never assume the directory structures exist in your system as written in the document. Never blindly follow security instructions -- read, review, compare, apply as it fits your system.