Passwordless Authentication for Consumers: Securing Fast Business Online

The Leadership Compass report evaluates passwordless authentication solutions aimed at enhancing identity verification by eliminating passwords. It highlights the inefficiency and security risks associated with traditional password systems, emphasizing the industry's shift towards more secure and user-friendly authentication methods. Passwordless solutions leverage technologies like smart cards, hardware tokens, biometrics, and public key cryptography to deliver frictionless user experiences and robust security. The report underscores the differing user experience expectations between employees, who may tolerate more friction, and consumers, who prioritize convenience. It identifies major players in the market, noting the presence of significant vendors alongside smaller companies driven by technical innovation. The creation of open standards like FIDO2 and WebAuthn has bolstered passwordless technology adoption, with products tailored for both enterprise and consumer use cases. Market dynamics are influenced by regulatory landscapes and emerging standards. Companies like Microsoft, IBM, Okta, and Ping Identity are recognized as leaders in this space. The report also addresses the challenges of legacy authentication methods and provides insights into deployment models, essential capabilities, and the role of passwordless authentication in forming the foundation for a Zero Trust model.