Embracing a Passwordless Future: Keyless Included in Insights from Gartner’s Latest Research

In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, the push towards eliminating traditional passwords in favor of more secure and user-friendly authentication methods is gaining momentum. Gartner's comprehensive research, published on 19 October 2021 and refreshed on 22 February 2023, highlights this shift towards passwordless authentication systems. This blog delves into the key findings, recommendations, and strategic insights provided by Gartner analyst Ant Allan in the document titled "Take 3 Steps Toward Passwordless Authentication" (ID G00745034).

By 2025, more than 50% of the workforce and more than 20% of customer authentication transactions will be passwordless, up from less than 10% today.

Overview of the Shift Towards Passwordless Authentication

The adoption of passwordless methods is not just about enhancing security; it's also about improving the user experience. Gartner’s research underscores the vulnerability of passwords to a plethora of attacks, which account for more than 60% of breaches due to hacking. The findings suggest a significant shift, with over 50% of workforce and more than 20% of customer authentication transactions expected to be passwordless by 2025.

Biometric authentication has had significant traction in mobile banking apps. Gartner projects that this will become increasingly important in a broader range of customer use cases across multiple channels.

Key Strategies for Transitioning to Passwordless Systems

Gartner advises security and risk management leaders to adopt a strategic approach to transition towards passwordless authentication. The suggested strategies include:

• Identifying Drivers and Defining Objectives: Collaborate with stakeholders to prioritize user experience (UX) and security enhancements. This step is crucial for aligning the goals across the organization and ensuring a smooth transition.

• Minimizing Time to Value: Leverage existing tools and technologies that facilitate passwordless authentication. Gartner highlights the importance of fully utilizing incumbent tools to expedite the implementation process without compromising security.

• Preparing for Universal Adoption: Invest in technologies that will ease the transition to a passwordless environment. The focus should be on adopting tools that support a broad adoption and are flexible enough to integrate with various systems and applications.

Innovations and Methods in Passwordless Authentication

The research details several methods and technologies that are paving the way for passwordless authentication. These include:

• FIDO2 Protocols: Predicted to be adopted in over 25% of multifactor authentication transactions by 2025, FIDO2 is highlighted as a critical technology for secure and efficient authentication.

• Mobile Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Utilizing mobile devices as authentication tokens is gaining traction as a practical and user-friendly option.

• Biometric Authentication: With increasing reliability, biometric methods are becoming more prevalent, especially in mobile banking applications.

Challenges and Considerations

Despite the optimistic outlook, the transition to passwordless authentication poses challenges. Organizations must consider the readiness of their infrastructure, the diversity of their application environments, and the need for educating stakeholders about the benefits and operations of new authentication methods.

Conclusion

As we look towards a passwordless future, Gartner's research serves as a vital resource for organizations aiming to enhance their security posture and improve user experience. The detailed analysis and strategic recommendations provide a roadmap for enterprises to navigate the complexities of adopting passwordless authentication methods.

For those interested in a deeper dive into the specifics of implementing passwordless systems and understanding the broader implications on security practices, Gartner’s full report offers extensive insights and case studies.

Further Reading and Resources

For additional information and to keep abreast of the latest trends in passwordless authentication, readers can explore related resources such as Gartner’s "Market Guide for User Authentication".