A user can access a computer system using Passwordless Authentication, which eliminates the need to enter (or remember) a password or any other kind of knowledge-based secret. In most common implementations, users must first provide their public identifier (username, phone number, email address, etc.). They must then finish the authentication process by providing a secure form of identification, like a registered device or token.

In public-key cryptography infrastructure, the private key is stored on the user’s device (such as a computer, smartphone, or external security token). It can only be accessed by providing a biometric signature or another authentication factor. Passwordless authentication techniques frequently use this infrastructure. The authenticating service receives the public key when registering (remote server, application, or website).

Password-based and passwordless authentication both make use of different authentication factors. Hence they are frequently mistaken for multi-factor authentication (MFA). However, passwordless authentication generally uses one highly secure factor to authenticate identity, making it quicker and easier for users. MFA is frequently used as an additional layer of security on top of password-based authentication.

Passwordless Authentication: What is it?

Passwordless authentication is a method of verifying a software user’s identity without needing a password. The most common types of passwords less authentication require a user to provide proof of ownership of a second device or account in addition to a unique biometric trait, such as their face or fingerprint.

By implementing passwordless authentication, every business may save costs and security worries. Passwordless authentication will become much more prevalent in the near future. Passwordless authentication provides a more seamless experience than traditional username and password (U/P) login for you and your users (that can be more secure if it relies on WebAuthn). This not only enables you to save money, but under some conditions, it may potentially increase sales.

According to Verizon’s 2021 Data Breach Investigations Report, credential vulnerabilities account for over 84% of all data breaches (DBIR). A data breach is less likely to occur if passwords are eliminated because doing so makes it more difficult for hackers to use you and your users as tools in their attacks.

For instance, hackers routinely use credential stuffing (using compromised user credentials from one breach to gain access to another enterprise) to breach an organisation since more than two-thirds of users repeat their passwords. By doing away with passwords, you prevent fraudsters from utilising credentials they have obtained elsewhere to access accounts on your system.

Passwordless authentication, which uses modern authentication methods like FIDO-compliant devices, reduces your company’s susceptibility to phishing attacks (tricking users into downloading malware or providing sensitive information with a malicious email).

By doing away with passwords, you can ensure that if your users or employees receive a phishing email, they won’t unintentionally provide malicious parties with the information they can use to access their accounts and personal data. Phishing emails account for 36% of all data breaches, many of which are carried out to obtain a username and password.

But, since your users won’t require a password to get in, employing passwordless authentication might help reduce or even eliminate those costs. Keeping those password databases in storage and maintenance is no longer required.

Moreover, the user experience might give software businesses a competitive edge (even at the enterprise level). Hence, making login simpler may influence users to choose you over competitors.

How can Passwordless Authentication be Implemented?

Coding passwordless authentication is much more challenging than simply instructing your development team to change the login box. If your login box were a light switch, implementing passwordless authentication for many businesses would be more like rewiring the entire home. Yet, third-party vendors provide an implementation speedier, safer, and more contemporary than anything that can be built internally.

How well that example applies to you will depend on how your current identity and access management (IAM) systems are built. However, the point is that it typically costs a lot of money and requires a lot of effort to deploy safely, requiring devoted development resources over a long period (and then scaling and maintaining those systems after implementation).

Because of this, many companies choose to work with an identity provider (such as Auth0) who, in some cases, can cut the time it takes to roll out password-less authentication for millions of users in half and also shoulder a lot of the maintenance costs they otherwise would have to bear.

Authentication without a password is exactly what it sounds like an authentication method. No backup or secondary authentication method uses passwords. Even though antiquated systems like Microsoft Active Directory require passwords, they are not used for authentication. Neither a password manager nor a vault is used to store passwords.

As some technology companies falsify their password-less authentication solutions, it is imperative to comprehend this. As passwords are still used as a backup, anybody may access your account using that password, leaving you vulnerable to attacks based on passwords.

Passwordless aims to use a more secure authentication method. A password is some data. A knowledge factor can replace a password, but it won’t significantly increase security.

Different Passwordless Authentication Methods

Traditional username and password authentication requires users to enter a password that they are aware of to establish their identity. On the other hand, passwordless authentication procedures require users to demonstrate that they possess something—a possession factor—or that they are something—an inherence factor—both of which are more challenging to overcome.

The following is a list of the most frequent methods for verifying both inheritance and possession aspects:

Biometrics: This form of password-free authentication is also quite common. The main focus of biometrics is technology, such as fingerprint readers and face scanners. Smartphones often use this kind of authentication. Typically found on the power button, the device’s back, or even beneath the front display, fingerprint scanners are a common feature of Android smartphones. In contrast, face authentication is now supported on Apple products, which previously supported this form of identification.

Each person has a variety of physical traits that are virtually wholly unique. Biometric authentication uses these distinguishing physical traits to verify that a person is who they say they are without requesting a password. Facial recognition is a valuable technique for identifying persons since, for example, the likelihood of two faces being identical is extremely low—less than one in a trillion.

Magic Links: With this kind of password-free authentication, the login form asks for the user’s email address rather than a password. After that, they receive an email with a URL they can use to log in. The identical process is used each time a user logs in.

The user of a magic link must provide their email address before a unique token can be created for them and sent to them. When a user clicks the link, the service recognises their token and exchanges it for a live token, logging them in.

One-Time Passwords/Codes: Unlike magic links, one-time passwords (OTP) and one-time codes (OTC) demand that users input a code that has been supplied to them (by email or SMS to their mobile device). This process is carried out each time a user logs in.

A one-time code may be obtained by entering an email address, resulting in the user receiving an email with the code. After the user enters the code, the service will verify the user and log them in.

Once the user provides their phone number, a one-time code is given to the number to begin the SMS authentication procedure. When the user enters the code into the service, it will validate it along with the user’s phone number before allowing them to log in. Nevertheless, because SMS authentications have traditionally been the focus of several attacks, they may be less secure than other password-less authentication methods.

By using the first connected device as a communication channel, push confirmations may also be utilised by SMS and email-based passwordless authentication to login into a service using a second device.

Push Notifications: To verify their identity, users start the authenticator app using a push notification they get on their mobile devices from a particular authenticator app (like Google Authenticator).

Passwordless Authentication Advantages

According to some, the largest security hole is passwords, which passwordless authentication claims to fix. A lot has been said about passwordless authentication, including many opinions that, sadly, can be misleading and confusing.

Passwordless authentication replaces the weak aspects of traditional MFA with substantially stronger elements. A passwordless authentication solution improves security and user experience by removing friction from the login process.

Prevents account takeover via credential attacks: Eliminating password authentication prevents all password-based threats. Attackers are unable to log in since there are no passwords. Passwordless authentication can prevent login credentials from being taken or revealed in attacks like credential stuffing, credential cracking, rainbow table attacks, ransomware through RDP, social engineering, and phishing.

User experience is improved because passwordless authentication eliminates the hassle associated with zero-click logins. Users don’t need to remember their passwords, check their email, utilise a second device, or go through the hassle of resetting them.

Reduces stress for IT staff by relieving users of the burden of memorising complex passwords and the need to reset them frequently. Saves time and money on password resets and help desk calls.

Continuous risk-based authentication improves your security posture: Users are re-authorised with each access request to ensure their risk profile hasn’t changed.

Recovered income through lower customer attrition: According to Mastercard, if customers forget their passwords, up to a third will just leave their carts empty. If companies can reduce that margin even a bit, they will get money back into their pockets that they would have otherwise lost. Similar to this, a more user-friendly identification process that is mobile-friendly and simple to use will entice customers to return.

Long-term savings through lower total cost of ownership (TCO) and infrastructure costs: In terms of IT, a password-based authentication solution requires support and upkeep that costs money. It can be costly and time-consuming to staff contact centres, automate account recovery, and maintain a support ticketing system. A user’s account must be reset. For major firms, the yearly support expenditures for passwords might reach the millions, while the long-term savings from doing rid of passwords could reach the tens of millions.

IT gains visibility and control: Using passwords can lead to common issues like phishing, reuse, and sharing. These issues can be fixed with passwordless authentication. Regaining complete insight into identity and access management was IT’s original aim. The user is no longer the organization’s wildcard identification scheme. Therefore, there is nothing to share, phish, or reuse.

Conclusion:

Passwordless authentication and password less logins are quickly becoming the most efficient and secure methods, marking a significant development in the industry that improves customer experience and adds a rock-solid layer of privacy and security.

User trust is verified through passwordless authentication, which is more convenient, efficient, and secure. The amount of labour necessary to install passwordless will depend on various factors. If your hybrid environment is complex, switching to passwordless will be more difficult.