Passwordless Authentication Unlocks Stronger, More Convenient Security
Passwordless authentication is just what it sounds like: it verifies user identities without passwords or any other information that users need to memorize. Passwordless enables authentication with less burdensome, more secure methods—such as one-time passwords (OTPs), passkeys, app-based options (like push to approve), and biometrics. Passwordless authentication is also critical in building organizations’ anti-phishing capabilities, because it reduces the use of password-based credentials that bad actors can compromise to carry out phishing attacks.
Removing Adversaries’ Favorite Cybersecurity Vulnerability
Passwords are a significant vulnerability. According to the 2024 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report, 83% of hacking-related breaches involved stolen credentials. Passwordless authentication removes this weak link, providing stronger protection against phishing, brute-force attacks, Man-in-the-Middle (MiTM) attacks, and credential stuffing.
Embrace Passwordless Authentication, One Step at Time
Going from a passwords-for-everything policy to a passwordless standard can be daunting. RSA encourages taking a more gradual approach to adopting passwordless authentication. With RSA, you can start with a single protected resource or user group, focusing first on the points where traditional authentication creates the greatest vulnerabilities.
Improved User Experience and Productivity
Users benefit from a seamless, faster, and more intuitive authentication process with passwordless. No more forgotten passwords or frequent resets, just smooth access to the resources they need. A recent poll from RSA’s 2024 ID IQ survey showed that 42% of users type in their passwords 1-5 times a day, with 24% doing so 11 times or more. Passwordless authentication significantly reduces this repetitive task, enhancing overall productivity.
RSA Strong Authentication Defends the Entire Identity Lifecycle
As you roll out passwordless authentication, it’s important to prioritize protecting points in the identity lifecycle that are especially vulnerable to credential-based attacks, like user onboarding, authentication, password and MFA resets, and endpoint access. RSA recommends and supports strong authentication methods (like FIDO passkeys) to implement passwordless security.
Passwordless methods are among the multi-factor authentication (MFA) options that make it possible for organizations to prioritize both security and user convenience. Passwordless MFA is part of RSA® ID Plus and the RSA Unified Identity Platform, which combines automated identity intelligence, authentication, access, governance, and lifecycle into one cohesive solution.
Stay Secure—Even if You Can’t Stay Connected
RSA delivers passwordless authentication with 99.99% availability, including a failover capability that enables authentication even without a network connection. If connectivity is interrupted for some reason, or if someone is working from a place that doesn’t have internet service, we make sure it’s still possible to connect securely.
