During a routine security audit, an organization$$s IT team discovers that unauthorized access has been gained to critical systems using cracked credentials. The attackers managed to bypass security controls by exploiting vulnerabilities in the system and using cracked administrator passwords. Describe the methods that could be used to crack administrator passwords and gain unauthorized access to critical systems. Analyze the implications of such breaches on the organization$$s security posture and suggest comprehensive measures to prevent password cracking and unauthorized access. Discuss the importance of implementing strong authentication mechanisms and regularly updating security policies to address these threats.