FIDO & PKI: A Password-Free Future
While we may not be quite "past" passwords, the amount of programs that rely on them has decreased. According to a Forrester study, many individuals believe that setting up passwordless authentication is difficult. But as people's awareness of the dangers around passwords has grown, analysts have concluded that multifactor authentication (MFA), where passwords serve as only one access factor, is the future of security.
Tech giants like Google, Apple, and Microsoft are pushing to increase the number of passwordless authentication solutions they offer and to encourage the creation of solutions that are easier for businesses to adopt and more user-friendly than before. These efforts are providing additional impetus for the movement.
Most of these solutions rely on FIDO, which has broad industry support and nearly ubiquitous built-in client support. A user can use security keys to authenticate oneself on a computer or phone, or they can utilize specialized hardware tokens that are placed on smart cards to implement FIDO.
With the aid of a FIDO platform synchronized passkey, it is also possible to store the cryptographic keys that provide FIDO authentication directly on Android and iOS devices. This means that users can authenticate themselves on neighboring desktop PCs or with gadgets they already own.
Another way to go passwordless is with PKI (public key infrastructure) certificates, which provide flexible and extensive identity management supported by a reliable certificate authority (CA). Mobile phones and Internet of Things (IoT) devices can both use PKI certificates. PKI can be used to encrypt data and facilitate end-to-end communications, but it also demands more cautious planning, deployment, and monitoring.
Over 80% of security decision-makers say they are either implementing or intend to implement passwordless authentication for partners and/or employees, according to Forrester. Their unique requirements and infrastructure will determine whether they choose FIDO- or PKI-based solutions. PKI may be chosen by organizations that require more stringent identity management procedures or that currently employ PKI certificates for server authentication, digital signatures, or data encryption. FIDO may be preferred by those who desire a quicker implementation schedule or who wish to simplify integration with online and mobile apps.
To learn about how Tx Systems can help implement these solutions for your organization,
contact our team today.
