"A brute force attack is a crude attempt to penetrate a network by trying a variety of different password permutations. These are typically conducted by automated systems that constantly submit requests for access until it is granted. The best way to counter this type of attack is to have strong password policies. These may include requiring long passwords, complex ones, and passwords that require a variety of different elements. You can also limit the number of requests available to a single user before a password must be reset or an administrator contacted to grant access to the network."