What is passwordless authentication?

Today, we rely on countless applications that require passwords. This often leads to risky behaviors like password reuse or weak passwords. This leaves organizations vulnerable to cyberattacks and data breaches.

The most commonly used password is “123456.”

Source: Exploding topics

Simple username and password logins are inherently insecure, as attackers can exploit various techniques to steal credentials, including:

These security risks highlight the need for more robust authentication measures to protect sensitive data and systems.

Passwordless authentication enhances security by replacing traditional passwords with inherently safer alternatives. In password-based authentication, a user enters a password, and the system checks it against a stored version.

Passwordless systems use various methods for verification. Biometric systems, for instance, compare a user’s unique physical traits (like facial features) to stored data. In this case, a system might capture a user’s face, convert it into numerical data, and compare it to a verified record.

Other passwordless implementations employ different approaches. For example, a system could send a one-time passcode to a user’s mobile phone. The user then enters this code to gain access, and the system verifies it against the sent code.

At the heart of passwordless authentication lies the same principle as digital certificates: a pair of cryptographic keys, one private and one public. Think of the public key as a padlock and the private key as the only key that can open it.

Each digital certificate has a unique public-private key pair. A user creates a secure account using a tool (like an authenticator app) that generates this essential pair. The private key is stored securely on the user’s device and is accessible only with an authentication factor (fingerprint, PIN, etc.). Public key cryptography is shared with the system to allow the user to access a secure account.

Passwordless authentication offers various secure alternatives to traditional passwords:

Passwordless authentication enhances security for you and your users, offers significant cost savings, and can potentially increase sales.

Passwordless authentication enhances security and streamlines user experience, leading to significant cost savings and potential revenue growth.

Implementing passwordless authentication presents several challenges that organizations must consider:

While passwordless authentication can lead to long-term cost savings, the upfront investment can be substantial. Integrating this technology into existing directory services often involves complex processes and requires purchasing the necessary hardware and software.

Employees may resist transitioning away from familiar username and password logins. Comprehensive training ensures smooth adoption for end-users utilizing new authentication methods and IT security staff managing the system.

These challenges highlight the importance of careful planning and consideration before adopting passwordless authentication. Organizations must weigh the potential benefits against these obstacles to determine if this solution aligns with their needs.

Passwordless authentication eliminates passwords, relying on alternative methods like biometrics or possession factors for user verification. In contrast, multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of security by requiring multiple authentication factors, often combining:

For instance, an MFA system might use a fingerprint scan as the initial authentication step, followed by an SMS OTP.

Confusion sometimes arises because passwordless methods are often incorporated into traditional password-based systems as a secondary authentication factor. This integration blurs the lines between passwordless authentication and MFA, leading to their interchangeable use.

However, it’s important to distinguish that passwordless authentication completely removes passwords. On the other hand, MFA enhances security by layering additional factors on top of existing password systems.

Implementing passwordless authentication relies on these key steps:

Choose your authentication factor: Decide on your preferred method, whether biometrics (fingerprints, retina scans) or other options like magic links or hardware tokens.

Determine the number of factors: Enhance security by using multiple authentication factors, even in a passwordless system. Relying on a single factor, regardless of its perceived safety, is not advised.

Acquire necessary hardware/software: Depending on your chosen method, you may need to purchase equipment (for biometrics) or software (for magic links, OTPs).

Register users: Begin enrolling individuals in your authentication system. This might involve scanning faces for facial recognition systems, for example.

While implementing passwordless authentication internally is possible, it can be complex and time-consuming. Many organizations outsource this process to third-party Identity and Access Management (IAM) providers (like OneLogin) to accelerate implementation and reduce maintenance burdens.

Organizations worldwide still use passwords, and password-based logins remain the easiest and cheapest to implement. However, many companies now recognize that passwords are the primary cause of data breaches, resulting in enormous financial losses.

Even though passwordless authentication methods are a significant improvement, they are still imperfect. Biometrics are vulnerable to spoofing, one-time passcodes can be intercepted, and hardware tokens can be lost or stolen. That is why you need a system that goes beyond authentication factors to verify identity.

Adaptive authentication uses machine learning to establish models of typical user behavior. When login attempts deviate from these established patterns, the system flags them as potentially risky and implements additional security measures.