16 billion passwords just leaked. Still using one?
Say goodbye to passwords with four powerful passwordless authentication methods. This blog explores how technologies like FIDO, biometrics and PKI eliminate the need for traditional passwords while boosting security and simplifying user access.
Traditional passwords have long been targeted by hackers, leaving companies vulnerable to breaches and users vulnerable to exposed personal information. On top of that, password fatigue has become a growing frustration for many, as users struggle to remember complex credentials across multiple platforms.
Many organizations are turning to passwordless authentication to address these challenges. Passwordless authentication allows users to securely access systems and accounts without a password. Instead, it relies on advanced technologies like biometrics, cryptographic keys and devices to verify a user’s identity.
In this blog, we’ll explore four types of passwordless authentication methods, highlighting how they work and the unique benefits they offer both users and organizations.
1. FIDO
FIDO is a modern, industry-standard authentication method that leverages public-key cryptography to ensure phishing-resistant passwordless authentication across various platforms.
The process involves a private-public key pair. The private key is securely stored on the user’s device, such as a smart card or security key, while the public key is registered with the service provider. When a user attempts to authenticate, the device uses the private key to sign a challenge sent by the server. This signature is then verified using the public key, ensuring the user’s identity without transmitting sensitive data.
Passkeys — FIDO credentials — are supported by major technology companies like Google, Apple and Microsoft. FIDO has gained widespread adoption due to high security and user-friendly implementation, making a preferred choice for organizations looking to strengthen their access control systems.
Top benefits:
- Uses public key cryptography, making it phishing-resistant
- Simplifies authentication by eliminating the need for password entry
- Because passkeys can be placed on a wide range of devices and are supported by well-known enterprise systems like Office 365 and Google Workspace, as well as many consumer applications, FIDO is suitable for personal accounts, enterprise environments and large-scale applications
2. Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)
PKI uses cryptographic key pairs — a public key and a private key — to secure authentication. With FIDO, a new key pair is created for each application, whereas with PKI, a single key is associated to a user through a digital certificate and shared across services — while the private key remains confidential.
PKI uses a trusted hierarchy of certificate authorities (CAs) that issue digital certificates to verify the identity of individuals, devices or organizations. When a user or system attempts to authenticate, the public key is used to verify a digital signature created with the private key, ensuring that the entity is legitimate.
Businesses and governments commonly employ PKI to protect sensitive information by authenticating users and devices.
Top benefits:
- Provides strong, phishing-resistant security by storing private keys on user devices, like smart cards or security keys, protecting against network attacks
- Enables cross-domain authentication through a single trust relationship
- Supports passwordless authentication, data encryption and digital signatures — making it a versatile security solution
To understand a bit more about whether to choose PKI or FIDO, check out this blog.
3. Biometrics
Biometric authentication relies on unique physical or behavioral traits to verify a user’s identity. These characteristics – such as fingerprints, facial structure, iris patterns or even voice – are inherently tied to an individual and therefore difficult to replicate. Biometrics work by capturing and analyzing these traits through specialized sensors or devices and comparing the data to pre-stored templates for authentication.
One of the most significant advantages of biometric authentication is its convenience. Users don’t need to remember complex passwords or carry physical tokens. For example, unlocking a smartphone with a fingerprint or logging into an application using facial recognition takes only seconds. Additionally, biometrics provide robust security by relying on factors that are nearly impossible for attackers to duplicate or steal remotely.
Top benefits:
- Eliminates password fatigue and the risk of weak or reused passwords
- High level of security, as biometrics are unique to each individual
- Fast and efficient, reducing friction in the user experience
4. Push Notifications
Push notification-based authentication sends a secure prompt to a user’s registered device to approve or deny an access request. This method is highly secure as it ties authentication to a device, and its real-time nature adds an extra layer of user verification.
Top benefits:
- Users can instantly approve or deny access requests
- Prevents unauthorized access by requiring device possession
- No need to memorize passwords or enter codes
Conclusion
The future of secure access lies in passwordless authentication. By eliminating traditional passwords, organizations can strengthen security, improve user experiences and eliminate the risk of password fatigue.
Whether your goal is to reduce risk, improve user satisfaction or modernize your systems, now is the time to act. Partner with HID to implement passwordless solutions and build a stronger, more secure future for your organization.
