Security Magazine logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Security Magazine logo
  • NEWS
    • Security Newswire
    • Technologies & Solutions
  • MANAGEMENT
    • Leadership Management
    • Enterprise Services
    • Security Education & Training
    • Logical Security
    • Security & Business Resilience
    • Profiles in Excellence
  • PHYSICAL
    • Access Management
    • Fire & Life Safety
    • Identity Management
    • Physical Security
    • Video Surveillance
    • Case Studies (Physical)
  • CYBER
    • Cybersecurity News
    • More
  • BLOG
  • COLUMNS
    • Cyber Tactics
    • Leadership & Management
    • Security Talk
    • Career Intelligence
    • Leader to Leader
    • Cybersecurity Education & Training
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Annual Guarding Report
    • Most Influential People in Security
    • The Security Benchmark Report
    • Top Guard and Security Officer Companies
    • Top Cybersecurity Leaders
    • Women in Security
  • SECTORS
    • Arenas / Stadiums / Leagues / Entertainment
    • Banking/Finance/Insurance
    • Construction, Real Estate, Property Management
    • Education: K-12
    • Education: University
    • Government: Federal, State and Local
    • Hospitality & Casinos
    • Hospitals & Medical Centers
    • Infrastructure:Electric,Gas & Water
    • Ports: Sea, Land, & Air
    • Retail/Restaurants/Convenience
    • Transportation/Logistics/Supply Chain/Distribution/ Warehousing
  • EVENTS
    • Industry Events
    • Webinars
    • Solutions by Sector
    • Security 500 Conference
  • MEDIA
    • Videos
      • Cybersecurity & Geopolitical Discussion
      • Ask Me Anything (AMA) Series
    • Podcasts
    • Polls
    • Photo Galleries
  • MORE
    • Call for Entries
    • Classifieds & Job Listings
    • Continuing Education
    • Newsletter
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Store
    • White Papers
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • This Month's Content
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
CybersecurityManagementSecurity NewswireLogical SecuritySecurity & Business ResilienceCybersecurity News

What Microsoft’s shift to passwordless means for cybersecurity

By Raz Rafaeli
Biometric passwordless authentication
December 2, 2021

Earlier this year, Microsoft announced that its users will no longer need passwords to log into their accounts. This may sound like a completely foreign idea to the casual consumer, but for those in the cybersecurity industry, the shift away from password dependence has long been mentioned as a safer alternative.

Microsoft’s decision could present immediate benefits to users and IT staff, giving them more back-end tech options that support passwordless multi-factor authentication (MFA), which involves using a smart mobile device to complete a login transaction.

However, those in the cybersecurity space advocating for change have found it challenging to get businesses to transition. Successful deployments have required companies to invest in the right resources, training and end-user communication systems. For small and mid-sized businesses, compliance or cost often drives a look at passwordless, but distrust of passwordless still remains pervasive. Larger enterprises, which often follow early adopters, have more complex requirements, and widespread public deployments are rare today.

Company leaders will need to make it clear that improved security is often the main purpose of these transitions. More than 80% of breaches still happen because of weak or stolen passwords, and ransomware also has an important vector of perpetration in brute force remote desktop protocol (RDP) attacks. 

Being able to point to Microsoft and other big tech companies that are successfully instituting password-free policies should bolster team-wide trust and convince skeptics that these moves are being made with security at top of mind.

A natural response to the remote age

As more people interact digitally and their entire work and social lives are remote, Microsoft’s announcement is a clear signal that a passwordless future is already here.

Implementing passwordless or biometric authentication methods should come as a relief to IT staff that have spent more time and resources during the pandemic helping their remote teams with password resets and cleaning up hacks from compromised login information.

The major benefit of logging into company accounts using passwordless methods — like USB keys or mobile devices built on a FIDO architecture — is to fortify a businesses’ security strategy. The promise of passwordless authentication is that it accomplishes this with a better end user experience, since users no longer need to type in a password and advanced forms do not require codes.

This shift will also help remote and hybrid teams cut back on the high costs associated with password resets. Without passwords to worry about, teams won’t continue to lose out on productivity from users who are locked out of their accounts, and IT staff will no longer waste valuable time and resources to reestablish logins. It’s no surprise large companies spend more than $1 million per year on password resets and similar support.

With entire industries making the move, companies will have to decide soon if they want to adopt passwordless MFA and whether to employ biometric authentication such as facial scans and fingerprints as part of that. Either way, the time for these widespread policy changes is now as tech giants Google and Apple are following in Microsoft’s footsteps with more password-free solutions of their own, like Apple’s iCloud Keychain.

Implementation may be a hurdle for some

The future of passwordless may be imminent, but it won’t be without some bumps along the road.

Smaller companies may not have the time or resources to quickly transition all their accounts to platforms that no longer require passwords. And Microsoft’s move, while a positive for smaller companies where the vendor has key market penetration, is ultimately most appropriate for all Microsoft environments built on Azure. Even smaller companies will need cohesion across heterogeneous IT assets such as Macs, Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) providers such as Okta and others, as well as a myriad of VPN providers.

In addition, they need to ensure that their employees are comfortable with these types of authentication options. Biometric authentication can cause concern among employees and clients who are wary of having their facial data or fingerprint on file somewhere. Although most modern passwordless solutions securely encrypt biometrics on an end user’s smartphone, it will be sure to raise questions among those who are only accustomed to traditional passwords.

At the end of the day, passwordless is coming. Companies that can get ahead of the curve to successfully implement these solutions will want to do so while properly explaining what types of private employee data will be saved and how. It’s vital in choosing the right option for your team and getting everyone on board.

KEYWORDS: biometric authentication cyber attack cyber security initiatives multi-factor authentication password security passwordless passwords risk mitigation

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Raz Rafaeli, CEO and Co-Founder at passwordless authentication company Secret Double Octopus, is a results-driven business executive with more than 25 years of technology and leadership experience in the software, security, semiconductor, and telecom industries. Previously, Rafaeli was the CEO of MiniFrame and Milestone Software & Systems in addition to holding executive positions at SanDisk & Spansion. He holds an MSc in Computer Science from the Technion.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
To unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Security's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024

    Security's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024

    Security magazine's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024 award...
    Top Cybersecurity Leaders
    By: Security Staff
  • cyber brain

    The intersection of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence

    Artificial intelligence (AI) is a valuable cybersecurity...
    Cyber Tactics Column
    By: Pam Nigro
  • artificial intelligence AI graphic

    Assessing the pros and cons of AI for cybersecurity

    Artificial intelligence (AI) has significant implications...
    Cybersecurity Education & Training
    By: Charles Denyer
Manage My Account
  • Security eNewsletter & Other eNews Alerts
  • eMagazine Subscriptions
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Online Registration
  • Mobile App
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Security audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Security or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Sureview screen
    Sponsored bySureView Systems

    The Evolution of Automation in the Command Center

  • Crisis Response Team
    Sponsored byEverbridge

    Automate or Fall Behind – Crisis Response at the Speed of Risk

  • Perimeter security
    Sponsored byAMAROK

    Why Property Security is the New Competitive Advantage

Popular Stories

Rendered computer with keyboard

16B Login Credentials Exposed in World’s Largest Data Breach

Verizon on phone screen

61M Records Listed for Sale Online, Allegedly Belong to Verizon

Security camera

40,000 IoT Security Cameras Are Exposed Online

Security’s 2025 Women in Security

Security’s 2025 Women in Security

Red spiderweb

From Retail to Insurance, Scattered Spider Changes Targets

2025 Security Benchmark banner

Events

July 17, 2025

Tech in the Jungle: Leveraging Surveillance, Access Control, and Technology in Unique Environments

What do zebras, school groups and high-tech surveillance have in common? They're all part of a day’s work for the security team at the Toledo Zoo.

August 7, 2025

Threats to the Energy Sector: Implications for Corporate and National Security

The energy sector has found itself in the crosshairs of virtually every bad actor on the global stage.

View All Submit An Event

Products

Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

See More Products

Related Articles

  • State sponsored attackers--protect the enterprise

    Protecting the enterprise against state-sponsored attacks

    See More
  • cyber-person

    A Seismic Shift: What California’s New Privacy Law Means for Cybersecurity

    See More
  • cloud-cyber

    Authentication vs. authorization | Why we need authorization standards and what it means for enterprise cybersecurity

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • security culture.webp

    Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

  • into to sec.jpg

    Introduction to Security, 10th Edition

  • 150 things.jpg

    The Handbook for School Safety and Security

See More Products
×

Sign-up to receive top management & result-driven techniques in the industry.

Join over 20,000+ industry leaders who receive our premium content.

SIGN UP TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing