Passwords are dying and passkeys are taking their place. Slowly but surely, passkeys are changing how we tackle online security.
We’ve been using passwords for decades, which is why they’re seen as the gold standard of security practices. But despite their long-standing popularity, they’ve always had one major flaw: us. Yes, a human is needed to not only create and remember passwords, but also to keep them secret. In this busy digital age, it’s tough to do all of that. As a result, weak passwords are easily guessed and strong ones forgotten. Then, of course, we have phishing campaigns and data breaches to serve up even more pressure on passwords.
For businesses, where a compromised password can cause digital chaos, the simplest solution is to start using passkeys.
What Exactly Is a Passkey?
The traditional password needs to change, and a passkey is the modern replacement. Part of its strength is that passkeys remove almost all human error. Rather than relying on a typed password, a passkey uses two cryptographic keys. One is stored on your device and the other is held by the service you’re logging into.
Once you log in, your device and the server are able to communicate and verify each other in the background. This is confirmed via fingerprint, face recognition, or your device’s PIN. You don’t need a password and, more importantly, there’s no password to be stolen from either end.
How Do Passkeys Compare to Authenticator Apps?
Passwords, as we’ve discussed, are far from secure. This is why authenticator apps like Google Authenticator and Microsoft Authenticator were developed. These require an extra security step to be taken to verify that you truly are the password owner. However, these work alongside an existing password rather than replacing it. This means that your password can still be stolen, representing a major security risk.
Passkeys eliminate this risk by removing the password from the equation altogether. A hacker is unable to intercept anything between you entering a code and it being authorized. There simply isn’t anything to harvest. This puts passkeys in a much stronger position than authenticator apps.
Are There Any Limitations with Passkeys?
As with all security protocols, passkeys are not 100% perfect. As passkeys primarily live on your device, losing the device in question could cause major access issues. Luckily, many platforms allow you to register passkeys across multiple devices or regain access through verified backup methods.
Therefore, now is the time to get started with integrating passkeys into your organization and getting your staff acquainted with how they work. While there will be some effort required to introduce this change, it will deliver a more enhanced level of security across your network.
For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.
