Why Is It So Challenging to Go Passwordless?

Imagine a future where you never have to remember another password. Seems like a dream come true for both end users and IT workers, right? But as the old adage goes, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."

If your firm is like many, you may be pondering a shift to passwordless authentication. But the fact is that a passwordless security strategy comes with its own set of difficulties and risks. In this piece, we'll analyze the real-world complexities of becoming passwordless and investigate why enhancing your current password procedures may be the simplest approach.

The attractiveness of passwordless authentication#

Password-related vulnerabilities constitute a substantial danger to corporate security. According to research from LastPass, a complete 80% of data breaches arise from weak, repeated, or hacked passwords. This dismal number emphasizes the attraction of passwordless solutions, which provide a method to totally bypass the hazards associated with regular passwords.

Passwordless authentication — including technologies like biometrics, security keys, or magic links — provides various benefits:

Enhanced security: By removing the need for users to establish and remember complicated credentials, passwordless authentication solutions greatly minimize the risk of breaches caused by human error.

Improved end user experience: Passwordless authentication is advantageous from an end-user standpoint. After all, who loves the task of remembering several complicated passwords across different accounts?

Reduced IT burden: Passwordless technologies claim to lessen IT teams' administrative strain by minimizing password reset requests and accompanying support issues.

Interested to find how many of your end users are presently utilizing hacked or stolen passwords? Run a read-only scan of your Active Directory now — download Specops Password Auditor for free.

The problems of going passwordless#

Despite the advantages, businesses confront various hurdles when contemplating a shift to passwordless authentication:

old system compatibility: Many firms depend on a mix of current and old systems – some of which may not support passwordless authentication techniques. And upgrading or replacing these systems may be expensive and time-consuming, frequently requiring considerable adjustments to existing infrastructure.

User acceptance and training: While passwordless solutions may be natural to tech-savvy individuals, they might confound others. Your firm may need to engage in extensive training to guarantee all staff can efficiently utilize the new authentication method.

Backup authentication methods: Even with passwordless main authentication, most systems still need a backup mechanism — which tends to be a regular password. This implies passwords don't completely vanish; they only become less apparent, perhaps leading to worse security practices surrounding these "hidden" passwords.

Biometric data privacy concerns: Many passwordless systems depend on biometric data, such as fingerprints or face recognition. This raises serious considerations concerning data privacy and storage. Your company must carefully assess the legal (and ethical) consequences of collecting and maintaining this sort of sensitive information.

Hardware requirements: Some passwordless methods need particular hardware, such as fingerprint readers or security keys. Equipping your firm with these devices may be costly, particularly if you have a big or spread staff.

compatibility challenges: In situations where workers need to access several systems and apps, it may be challenging for your IT staff to guarantee flawless compatibility across different passwordless solutions.

governmental considerations: Depending on your sector and region, your firm may encounter governmental constraints that effect your choice of authentication techniques. Some rules may demand special security measures or data protection policies that might impact your selection between passwordless and standard password solutions.

Strategies to improve password security#

Given these constraints, your firm may discover that upgrading your current password security methods is a more realistic, cost-effective approach. To increase your existing password security efforts, try following these strategies:

Enforce robust password policies: Implementing strong password criteria — such minimum length and complexity — may increase your security. But remember: disgruntled end users hunt for password policy workarounds. Balance your requirement for security with usability by promoting the generation of passphrases.

Use multi-factor authentication (MFA): Adding an extra layer of protection via MFA may lessen the risk of unwanted access, even if a password is stolen.

Employ password management tools: Password management solutions may enable your staff easily develop and save strong, unique passwords for all their accounts, decreasing the danger of password reuse.

Provide frequent security training: Educating your end users about password hygiene best practices and how to spot phishing efforts helps prevent security breaches.

Continuously monitor for compromised credentials: Consider deploying technologies to identify and warn when employee credentials emerge in known data breaches. This early warning will help you to reduce any hazards promptly.

To further boost your efforts, your firm may choose to add specialist technologies into its security plan. For example, products like Specops Password Policy interact with Active Directory to boost password security throughout your business.

With Specops Password Policy, you can:

Customize password complexity requirements

Give users real-time feedback during password generation

Detect and prohibit the usage of stolen credentials

Gain insights with thorough reporting and compliance tools

By deploying a technology like Specops Password Policy, your firm may enhance its password security posture without entirely revamping its authentication infrastructure. This strategy offers a balanced solution that solves your present security demands while helping your firm prepare for future authentication technologies.

A balanced approach to passwords vs. passwordless#

While passwordless authentication is enticing, it remains a long-term objective for many businesses rather than an instant solution. The implementation obstacles — from old system compatibility to user uptake — make it a complicated, perhaps costly exercise.

In the meanwhile, your firm may strengthen password security by defining solid rules, adopting multi-factor authentication to acquire another layer of protection, and investing in specialist solutions like the Specops Password Policy. This balanced strategy can help you gain security advantages without having to fully modify your organization's security posture.

Ready to boost your password security? Try Specops Password Policy for free.