How to choose a password manager

Created: November 21, 2025 at 2:39 PM | Updated: November 21, 2025 | By NZ Navigator Trust

A password manager is an easy way for you and your staff to keep track of all the different passwords used to access your organisation's programmes, services and systems.

The right password manager will be easy to use and provide the appropriate level of security for your organisation and staff, however, not all password managers are made equal!

We've reviewed two easy-to-read Aotearoa New Zealand resources for choosing and using a password manager.

1. How to choose a password manager 

This guide from Own Your Online helps Aotearoa New Zealand small and medium organisations consider “Which password manager should we pick?” and “What to watch out for?”

The guide is targeted at organisations and staff, not just individuals — so it covers the number of accounts staff might have, sharing of accounts, staff access, etc.

It gives a list of features and risks like: 

  • Does the product have two-factor authentication?
  • Has it suffered a data breach?
  • Can you migrate your passwords if you switch from another manager?

An overview of each of the different types of password managers (cloud, local, browser-based) is also included.

2. Password managers

This resource is part of the National Cyber Security Centre's (NCSC) “Protect your organisation” series. Although this guide is more suited for medium or large organisations, the information also applies to smaller organisations.

The guide looks at password managers as not just as a tool, but as a key component of an organisation’s wider cyber-security framework. 

It covers definitions, how to choose a password manager, how to roll it out, how to measure success and more:

  • what a password manager is
  • why a password manager helps
  • what risks a password manager mitigates (e.g., reused passwords, default passwords, passwords stored in plain text etc)

The guide provides structured guidance on Choosing the tool, Rolling it out, and Measuring success. 


To be successful, a tool like this must be adopted widely, staff must use it, and the organisation must support staff using it. If it’s too hard to use, it won’t work. 

TIP: When you are ready to research Password Managers, check out the tools in our Digital Stuff We Love Security category.