Passwordless Authentication

Passwordless Authentication is the term for login methods that do without a classic password. Instead, users prove their identity via biometric features, security keys, device binding, passkeys or cryptographic certificates, for example. The aim is to avoid the weaknesses of knowledge-based credentials while at the same time simplifying the login process.

Passwords can be forgotten, reused, guessed or captured through phishing. Passwordless methods replace the shared secret with stronger proofs that are often bound to a specific device and a legitimate domain. This significantly reduces the risk of successful credential attacks. At the same time, many support cases around password resets and locked accounts disappear.

The technical basis is usually the FIDO2 and WebAuthn standards, on which passkeys are also based: a private key remains on the device, the login takes place via challenge-response and is therefore phishing-resistant. Passwordless methods are therefore considered a strong form of multi-factor authentication – device possession and biometrics replace the password, not the multi-step nature. As a building block of Identity Security, they also support concepts such as Zero Trust, in which every login is evaluated depending on context.