While passwords are still the most commonly used authentication method, they’re also still the weakest link in personal and business security. According to Dashlane’s Global Look at Password Health Scores in 2023, the average internet user has over 227 passwords, and volume fatigue leads to reuse and weak passwords that are easy for cybercriminals to crack. Since the #1 tactic leading to data breaches is the use of stolen credentials, bad employee password habits can quickly become a serious business problem.
When employees are busy, they tend to gravitate toward what’s fast and easy rather than prioritize what’s most secure. So, when it comes to protecting their organization’s data, IT admins are always looking for new tools and tech to transform employees’ weak links into security strengths.
If only there were a login method that was easier and safer than using a password.
Enter passkeys: A faster, more secure, passwordless login. If you’ve ever used FaceID to unlock your phone or a fingerprint to unlock your laptop, you’re already familiar with this type of authentication.
Passkeys are simpler and more secure than traditional password logins—even those coupled with 2-factor authentication (2FA). There’s nothing to remember, so there’s nothing for you or your employees to forget. That translates to much less time wasted resetting passwords and much less strain on your IT team—according to the Gartner Group, between 20% to 50% of all help desk calls are for password resets. Imagine the productivity boost in a future where passwords are no longer commonplace.
Passkeys are also phishing-resistant. They’re inherently tied to the website they’re created on, so there’s no chance of accidentally filling them into a form that looks like your Microsoft login but is actually a landing page from a clever phishing email with a cybercriminal on the other end eagerly awaiting your credentials.
So, if passkeys are so much better than passwords, then why haven’t we ditched passwords entirely?
While there are already 100+ popular websites that support passkey login, including Amazon and GitHub, this is still a developing technology. Passwords won’t totally disappear anytime soon, but many users are already going passwordless wherever it’s available. And when people practice secure login habits outside the office, they also bring that security knowledge into the office.
Hopefully, none of your employees are storing passwords in spreadsheets or passing them around on sticky notes anymore since password managers like Dashlane make it easy to store and share credentials with the whole team. Dashlane also simplifies the use of passkeys across platforms and devices, and we’re working on the functionality for passkey sharing, too. (Stay tuned!)
As the first password manager to offer an in-browser passkey solution, Dashlane works closely with the FIDO Alliance, a non-profit industry organization working to end password dependency. We’ve also got a variety of resources to help you and your employees get up to speed on passkeys and other passwordless authentication technology. Check out this deep dive on all things passkeys, which features everything from a high-level “Explain Like I’m 5” concept to an in-depth technical breakdown of exactly how passkeys work.
As more companies and platforms adopt passkey login methods, hacks and breaches related to stolen passwords will start to wane, and we’ll all be safer for it. While passkeys aren’t yet the norm, a passwordless model will eventually be the standard choice for secure authentication. So why wait? Familiarize yourself and educate your team on the security benefits of passwordless authentication with Dashlane now. Your future self will thank you.