Concerns regarding the security of users’ data are increasing day-by-day, as passwords have become inefficient for protecting customer data.
So, how can you protect your customers from identity attacks?
Today, attacks are becoming more sophisticated and growing in numbers, increasing the density of online threats. It is no wonder that companies that implement passwordless authentication into their system will be in the position to gain users’ trust and grow their business further.
This blog post will specifically target how companies use passwordless authentication to protect their user data. After that, we’ll focus on the problems associated with technical, business, and security that password-based authentication presents to users and organisations.
Then, you will discover some meaningful insights regarding passwordless authentication that can help your organisations protect users’ interests and maintain their credibility by incorporating passwordless solutions.
Current Status Of Authentication
As a user-facing company, you want your customers’ experience as secure and pleasant as possible. However, passwords can create havoc and affect these goals in multiple ways. Here’s how.
Technical Issues
Like other security measures, not every Passwordless Authentication method is suitable for all users. Today, not all users have access to devices compatible with FIDO2 authenticators such as TouchID, and not every browser is compatible with WebAuthn or FIDO.
Above all, some phone applications use built-in browsers that do not support any new security features available on modern devices. This makes it crucial for organisations to embed a simplified, flexible authentication method that supports even the standard operating system to avoid disruption in user login.
Business Problems
Many organisations lose their potential users on their login page because it doesn’t integrate credible authentication methods. It may seem too clunky and doesn’t focus on improving user experiences. In fact, over 70% of users will bounce back from a website that delays for a second or looks unreliable.
For instance, users who shop online from an e-commerce store might rethink purchasing if they have to re-enter their credentials and go through the hassle of logging into their accounts.
It adversely affects the overall experience, and more than 80% of organisations believe that user experience is essential for business success in our digital world. Otherwise, negative feedback from customers can affect the overall reputation and make it challenging for a business to repair in the long run.
Security Problems
We all know that passwords can easily obstruct the security of users’ data, making them vulnerable to acts like brute force, credential stuffing, phishing, and dictionary attacks. This upsurge in security risk is caused by people using predictable or common passwords, untrustable methods to remember them, and even considering using insecure recovery mechanisms.
Recent studies have shown that 80% of data breaches are often caused by reused, stolen, or weak passwords. Security experts also feel guilty about keeping poor strength or reusing easily predictable passwords. On the other hand, over 46% of Infosecurity professionals admit to using the same passwords on multiple platforms.
Many individuals may think it’s safer to remember the credentials, but it’s not. It will make them even more vulnerable to hacking techniques like credential stuffing, where credentials are compromised and the database can be breached. Then, automated brute-force attacks can target multiple accounts in a single breach.
How To Overcome The Authentication Difficulty
When it comes to going the extra mile for additional security, integrating an authenticator method is the best way to meet the requirements of various users. It is viable to introduce passwordless practices that address valuable considerations of your organisation. So, it’s better to start considering the factors below.
1. Threats
Make a list of specific threats your organisations face, from password spraying and credential breaches to man-in-the-browser, man-in-the-middle, and brute-force attacks. It’s better to find a passwordless method to solve these concerns and improve the customer experience and interaction with your business.
2. Technology
Take your company’s technology into consideration and the technology required to deal with these counter-attacks. Like external authenticators, platform authenticators, browser support, etc. So, incorporating both in-house and other technology can create unbreakable protection over the users’ data, which further enhances the customers’ experience.
3. Costs
As a company, every owner has to consider many factors related to authentication, and the cost is one of them. This cost will include the savings invested in initiating the passwordless program, support costs related to credential management, and security costs associated with compromised or weak credentials.
And sometimes, the value present in weak or compromised accounts is also considered because of security issues. Once all considerations are taken into account, you can quickly maximise security and improve the user experience with passwordless authentication.
User Experience
After integrating the authenticator, you need to evaluate the browsers, devices, and apps that potential customers will use when interacting with your services and learn how to navigate using Identity Proofing and Biometric Authentication technology. You can bring changes and tweaks into the interface and make it even more user-friendly and highly secure.
Once you have considered these vital components, you can incorporate different approaches that encourage customers to experience passwordless authentications. These practical approaches would include the following.
Factor Sequencing
With the assistance of factor sequencing, users don’t have to run through the hassle of remembering any password, as they can log into the account with their username and high assurance security like biometric authenticators.
Above all, admins have the flexibility to create a customised sequencing of various factors that cater to users’ needs at best. So, here’s a list of factors you need to consider when updating the security initiatives of your company.
Biometric Factors
Biometric authentication is among the most potent authenticators available, as it cannot be shared with anyone else and cannot be forgotten. Biometrics is a surefire way to authenticate your login or whenever the customer needs to prove who they say they are, such as passwordless authentication or strong customer authentication.
Email Links
An email link is one of the best alternatives to WebAuthn. In this approach, customers and users will receive an authenticated URL on the email, which can authenticate their login in a single click and ensure all credentials are kept hidden.
This approach is suitable for applications that need infrequent authentication, which encourages users to take advantage of this passwordless method and make login possible without the dependency on any devices. Other approaches might require you to access your device. Still, the Email link allows you to confirm your identity by clicking on the authenticator URL sent to your email address registered with the account.
WebAuthn
WebAuthn is a global web-based passwordless authentication that operates through browser API. This browser-based API simplifies the authentication process with a pair of keys and protects users from brute force, phishing, and other security attacks.
Organisations can incorporate WebAuthn authenticators like FaceID or TouchID as a default solution to let users log in to their account or pair it with other high assurance factors like biometric authenticators, OTP codes, etc., depending on the security assurance required to protect user data and credentials.
Use this browser-based API for adding a security layer to your website or app so users can enjoy seamless protection from identity threats and log in to their accounts without any hassle.
Wrapping Up
Passwords remain a substantial source of risk for organisations, even when combined with another method, like Multi-Factor Authentication.
Friction, frustration and fatigue remain high for users and administrators.
Eliminating passwords and replacing them with something that cannot be shared or forgotten is key to a successful authentication strategy. It improves user experience, delivers trust, drives business, and reduces security risk and associated costs with traditional password methods.
Passwordless Authentication with Udentify
Udentify offers identity verification and authentication services. It utilises multiple methods of authentication including biometric authentication, which involves the use of physical characteristics such as fingerprints and facial recognition to verify a user’s identity. This process of passwordless authentication is much more secure than traditional passwords, as it requires a user to physically present themselves in order to gain access to the system.
Udentify has many advantages over traditional password-based authentication. For example, it eliminates the need to remember and enter a long and complex password every time a user wants to access the system, which is a major source of frustration for many people. Additionally, it is much more secure than passwords, as it is almost impossible to guess or replicate a user’s physical characteristics. Finally, the authentication process is quick and easy, strengthened with liveness detection, making it an ideal solution for busy customers who need to manage multiple accounts.
