Microsoft claims that its new passwordless methods reduce password use by over 20% and result in users signing in faster. The company added passkeys as an option for personal accounts along with a password manager for Windows Hello early last year.
While the transition to passwordless security procedures is already underway, adoption is still limited mainly in larger companies in certain industries. There are many steps that can (and should) be taken to accelerate the authentication journey to make passwordless authentication mainstream.
Apple, Google and Microsoft have been working closely with the FIDO Alliance to introduce passkeys, which are a much more secure and effective successor to password-based security. This commitment is likely to drive a rapid change in consumer behavior and expectations. But will other enterprises be ready to respond?
In this article, we move beyond the buzzword to understand the high costs of passwords, the distinction between passwordless and password-free, what a world without passwords would look like and how we can finally get there.
Consumers can now access all Microsoft accounts using passwordless authentication using Microsoft Authenticator App, Windows Hello, security key, or SMS and email verification codes.
