Passkeys implementation trade-offs: what IAM teams miss beyond MVP

TL;DR: Passkeys can remove password risk, but the harder decision is whether to build or buy the authentication stack that must stay compatible with FIDO, WebAuthn, devices, backend systems, and compliance demands, according to OneSpan. The real constraint is operational continuity, because authentication programmes fail when maintenance, integration, and future specification changes are treated as afterthoughts.

NHIMG editorial — based on content published by OneSpan: Passkeys implementation, build or buy?

By the numbers:

• This enterprise deployed FIDO-based passwordless authentication across its mobile apps, achieving 70% faster sign-ins.

Questions worth separating out

Q: How should teams decide whether to build or buy passkeys infrastructure?

A: Teams should compare the full lifecycle cost, not just the initial delivery cost.

Q: Why do passkey programmes fail after an apparently successful pilot?

A: Pilot success often hides the hard parts of authentication at scale.

Q: What should security teams evaluate before adopting passkeys across their applications?

A: They should evaluate backend fit, application compatibility, compliance needs, and the ownership model for ongoing maintenance.

Practitioner guidance

• Set explicit passkey lifecycle criteria before build decisions Define what must remain supportable after MVP launch, including FIDO and WebAuthn updates, device coverage, and operational ownership for changes.
• Inventory backend dependencies early Map how passkeys will integrate with hardware security modules, secret stores, and existing authentication paths before committing engineering effort.
• Separate core controls from differentiating features Use purchased capability for foundational authentication functions and reserve custom development for experience elements that actually differentiate the business.

What's in the full article

OneSpan's full post covers the operational detail this post intentionally leaves for the source:

• How OneSpan frames the build-versus-buy decision for passkeys implementation across multiple environments.
• The vendor's discussion of backend infrastructure fit, including cloud hardware security modules and secret stores.
• The article's case study details on faster sign-ins and the implementation trade-offs behind the result.
• The white paper reference for teams that want the vendor's fuller view of hybrid authentication architecture.

👉 Read OneSpan's analysis of build versus buy decisions for passkeys implementation →

Passkeys implementation trade-offs: what IAM teams miss beyond MVP?

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