New research reveals that enterprise users and security professionals alike are frustrated by the inefficiency and lax security of passwords for user authentication.

Mobile devices are the best option for replacing passwords, the research found, as they remain at the center of enterprises in terms of where business is done, how access is given, and how authentication is done. In fact, the survey revealed that almost nine-in-ten (88%) security leaders believe that mobile devices will soon serve as digital ID to access enterprise services and data.

The survey, sponsored by MobileIron, polled IT security leaders in the US, UK, Australia, and New Zealand working in a range of industries at companies with at least 500 employees.

“It’s time to say goodbye to passwords. They not only cause major frustrations for users and IT professionals, but they also pose major security risks,” said Rhonda Shantz, Chief Marketing Officer at MobileIron."

According to the research:

• 90% of security pros have seen unauthorized access attempts as a result of stolen credentials.
• Security leaders estimate that they could reduce their risk of breach by almost half by eliminating passwords.
• Two out of every five (41%) of help desk tickets result from password or multi-factor authentication (MFA) lockout,
• Password lockout sentiment for end-users: 68% feel disrupted; 63% feel irritated; 62% feel frustrated; 62% feel that they have wasted time.
• Almost half (45%) of all end-users reuse personal and corporate passwords, which does not comport with security best-practices.
• Security leaders estimate that they could reduce their risk of breach by almost half (43%) simply by eliminating passwords.
• Almost every security leader (86%) would do away with passwords if they could.
• Almost three-in-four (72%) security leaders are actively looking to replace passwords.

The merits of mobile, says the research:

• Almost nine-in-ten (88%) security leaders believe that in the near future, mobile devices will serve as your digital ID to access enterprise services and data.
• About two-in-five end-users (42%) need daily access to mobile business apps, but that number is expected to grow significantly in the next two years.
  • Almost all organizations saw the use of business apps expand last year (85%).
  • Almost all organizations expect to see continued expansion in the next 2 years (87%).
  • Millennials are driving demand for broader access to business apps on mobile devices (94% vs. 73% non-Millennials).