Say Goodbye to Passwords: What Your Business Needs to Know About Passkeys

What if your login couldn’t be stolen, guessed, or reused?

If you’re like most business owners, you probably have a love-hate relationship with passwords. They’re essential, yet frustrating. Between managing dozens of logins and trying to enforce strong password habits across your team, it’s a never-ending chore. But what if there were a better way? Enter passkeys — a new, simpler, and more secure method of authentication that could soon make passwords a thing of the past.

What Are Passkeys?

Passkeys are a modern replacement for passwords. Instead of relying on a string of characters that can be forgotten, guessed, or stolen, passkeys use cryptographic authentication that’s tied to your device. Think of it as the biometric unlock on your phone — but for your apps, websites, and cloud tools.

When you use a passkey, your device verifies your identity (using your fingerprint, face ID, or a PIN), and then it authenticates with the service you’re trying to access using a secure digital key. Nothing guessable is ever stored or shared — and that means there’s nothing for hackers to steal.

Why Passkeys Are More Secure

Passwords have always been a weak link in cybersecurity. They get reused, stored insecurely, and compromised in data breaches. Even with multi-factor authentication (MFA), users can be tricked into revealing their credentials through phishing scams.

Passkeys solve several of these issues:

• They can’t be phished. Passkeys don’t rely on information you know (like a password), so there's nothing for scammers to trick you into revealing.

• They aren’t stored on servers. Since the private key never leaves your device, attackers can’t steal it in a breach.

• They’re device-based. The login process is bound to something you physically control — your phone, computer, or hardware key.

How Passkeys Work in Practice

Let’s say you’re logging in to your project management software. Instead of entering a username and password, you’re prompted to authenticate with Face ID on your phone. Your phone sends a cryptographic signature to the service, verifying you — and that’s it. You’re logged in securely, with no password involved.

You’re Probably Already Using Passkeys…

If you’ve ever:

• Unlocked your phone with Face ID or your fingerprint

• Logged into a bank app using facial recognition

• Used your smartphone to approve a Google login or sign into a Microsoft account without entering a password

…then you’ve already used a version of a passkey!

Why Your Business Should Pay Attention

If you're managing a team, every weak password or shared login is a potential vulnerability. Passkeys give your business a stronger, simpler, and more scalable way to secure access to tools and data.

• Simplify onboarding and offboarding. No more resetting forgotten passwords or worrying about former employees retaining access.

• Improve employee compliance. Passkeys are easier to use, which means fewer shortcuts and better overall security.

• Reduce the risk of phishing attacks. Since passkeys can’t be socially engineered, your exposure to credential-based attacks drops significantly.

Are There Any Downsides?

Passkeys do rely on having compatible devices and up-to-date software, and not all apps or services support them yet. Businesses with shared devices or limited hardware control may face some implementation hurdles.

But for many small businesses, especially those already using cloud platforms and modern devices, it’s a worthwhile upgrade.

Ready to Make the Switch?

When you're ready to create a passkey, you’ll usually start by going to your account settings or security preferences on the website or app. Look for options like:

• “Login & Security,” “Password & Authentication,” or “Passkeys”

  
  

Then choose:

• “Use a passkey” or “Create a passkey for this account”

Your device will guide you through the process using your fingerprint, face scan, or PIN. Keep in mind: the exact steps vary depending on the service. Some sites may require you to log in with your password first; others may offer the passkey option right after account creation. Just follow the on-screen prompts.

If you're curious about how passkeys can help secure your business, now is a great time to explore your options. We work with small and midsize organizations to evaluate current security practices and transition to more secure solutions — like passkeys — that fit your workflows and budget.