Passwords Have Downsides
By now, most people understand the various downsides of using passwords. They’re hard to keep track of, especially when using multiple applications. They’re easy to forget and even easier to compromise. Most data breaches come from poor password management, including shared, weak or stolen passwords.
Passwordless security is quickly becoming a popular countermeasure to traditional authentication methods. Nevertheless, you might be asking yourself and your IT leaders, “is passwordless authentication safe?” In this blog, we’ll shed some light on passwordless security and what to expect in terms of safe usage.
Why Use Passwordless Authentication?
Secure password-based authentication solutions exist, but these methods can’t be entirely relied upon due to their numerous security pitfalls. After all, it’s the password itself that is often the weak link in the security chain.
Risky or lax password management practices can easily open the door to data hacking and other malicious attacks by various threat actors. Users can forget passwords, inadvertently use common passwords (“12345,” etc.), choose weak passwords for convenience or leave passwords written in plain view of others. Some users may even reuse passwords that may have been previously compromised without their knowledge.
Passwordless security supplants traditional passwords for authentication based on the devices you use or your own biometric data (facial scans, fingerprints, etc.) For instance, users can verify their identity using their organization-issued smartphone, keycard or dongle. These verification methods often come in the form of a push notification prompting users to confirm their log-in attempt or a magic link sent via text or email.
More companies are recognizing the tangible benefits that passwordless authentication offers in a number of crucial aspects:
- Better Security - As the name implies, passwordless authentication takes passwords out of the equation. No passwords mean one less weak link that can be potentially compromised through sharing or lax security practices.
- Better Usability – Users no longer have to struggle with creating, remembering or updating lengthy and overly-complex passwords. Passwordless authentication not only simplifies the log-in process, but also makes it faster and less frustrating for users.
- Reduced Cost – IT departments will spend less time dealing with the pitfalls of a password-based authentication system with more time left for other tasks. A truly unified passwordless solution reduces IT expenditures while improving overall ease of use and maintenance.
- Greater Flexibility – Whether your organization relies on biometrics or device-based authentication, passwordless security lets you choose the best implementations that suit your specific use case.
Despite these benefits, some organizations may still have reservations about transitioning to a passwordless authentication solution. We’ll address these concerns below and highlight the potential risks that exist.
Simply put, there’s always a risk with any major infrastructure shift, and passwordless authentication is no different. While eliminating passwords altogether removes a significant threat vector from the picture, threat actors are instead focusing on other potential vulnerabilities in order to gain access to user data:
- Biometric Risks – Without passwords as a vector of attack, threat actors may target devices reliant on biometric scanners and mobile devices instead. By compromising these devices, threat actors could gain access to users’ data.
- Insider Threats – Privileged misuse by former employees, contractors and third-party vendors remains a significant risk for organizations. These insider threats can easily put your organization’s sensitive and confidential data in the wrong hands.
- Personal Concerns – Your employees may have their own concerns about using passwordless authentication, especially when it involves their own devices. For instance, some users may worry about such systems collecting biometrics and other personal data, which could be seen as an invasion of their privacy.
- Stolen or Lost Credentials – Losing access to the device or account used for passwordless authorization could compromise the security of your data. For instance, if the mobile device used for passwordless authentication is stolen or lost. However, this issue is far less likely to crop up than a lost or compromised password.
- Non-Secure IAM – Non-secure identity management can open organizations up to significant risks. Without strong authentication protocols and best IAM practices, hackers and other threat actors may have an opportunity to gain unauthorized access to your data.
It’s true that going passwordless won’t completely protect your business. There will always be risks and criminals and malicious actors are always looking for new, creative ways to get around defenses.
But the question is not “will your business still have vulnerabilities that must be addressed after going passwordless?” (Yes, of course.) The question is “will going passwordless improve your security measurably compared to password-based systems?” In that light, the answer is simple: Passwordless authentication offers the best avenue for companies to protect their data and strengthen their organizational security while simplifying IT operations. This alone makes the deployment of a passwordless security solution a net gain for your organization.
Understanding the risks involved in any system can help you mitigate those risks, thus insuring a smoother transition without any unexpected delays or setbacks.
How Businesses Can Improve Passwordless Authentication
The risks involved in passwordless authentication depend on how it’s deployed and ultimately used. Sloppily adopted and deployed passwordless systems are going to be inherently more vulnerable than well-implemented ones. As with any security paradigm, doing it right matters. This is where your deployment strategy comes into focus. Recruiting an MSP or VAR to plan and help your organization navigate the deployment process can minimize or even avoid disruptions.
Most passwordless authentication solutions are designed to be as intuitive to their users as possible. Nevertheless, you may need to set aside a period of time where you can walk your employees through the passwordless authentication process.
It’s also critical for the transition to passwordless authentication to be complete throughout the system. A partial integration, whether it involves a reliance on passwords at the start of the deployment or only using passwordless authentication on select utilities, opens the door to vulnerabilities within the infrastructure.
Utilizing something like PKI-based authentication can help further strengthen your security posture. PKI authentication allows you to issue signed, encrypted and trusted credentials to minimize threat vectors. Axiad’s cloud-based PKI infrastructure is platform-agnostic and helps users get optimal effect from their passwordless authentication system to achieve maximum security and compliance while not being disruptive to users.
No solution can guarantee 100% safety, but passwordless authentication offers a vast improvement over password-based authentication measures. If you want to better understand the benefits that passwordless authentication offers or you’re interested in implementing a passwordless security solution for your organization, contact us today.
