Topic starter
08/06/2026 4:34 pm
TL;DR: Passwordless authentication removes passwords in favour of one-time codes, biometrics, or FIDO tokens and is positioned as a usability and security improvement for users, according to Axiad. Its real value for practitioners is how it changes authentication trust assumptions inside zero trust and SSO programmes, not simply how people sign in.
Editorial analysis by NHI Mgmt Group, based on content published by Axiad: “What Is Passwordless Authentication and How Does It Work?”.
Key questions
Q: What is the difference between passwordless authentication and MFA?
A: Passwordless changes the primary login factor by replacing passwords with possession or biometric proof.
Q: What should IAM teams review when moving toward passwordless access?
A: Review recovery processes, device trust assumptions, policy exceptions, and how authentication events feed access governance.
Q: Why do zero trust programmes need more than password removal?
A: Zero trust depends on continuous trust decisions, so removing passwords alone does not solve the problem of whether the factor is strong enough.
Practitioner guidance
- Define factor assurance tiers Classify passwordless methods by the level of identity assurance they provide, then map those tiers to application sensitivity and user population.
- Review account recovery paths Test what happens when the phone, email account, biometric factor, or FIDO token is lost, and make sure recovery does not recreate password-like weak links.
- Bind SSO to assurance requirements Set explicit rules for which passwordless methods can satisfy SSO access to high-value applications, rather than allowing one login flow for all resources.
Bottom line: Passwordless authentication removes the password from the trust chain, which changes how IAM teams should think about proof, recovery, and session assurance.
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This topic was modified 4 days ago by NHI Mgmt Group
08/06/2026 6:15 pm
Passwordless authentication is not a cosmetic change to login, it is a control-model change. When passwords disappear, the identity programme stops depending on a reusable shared secret and starts depending on factor binding, recovery paths, and device trust. That makes authentication design more explicit, but it also exposes whether the organisation has actually governed its alternate factors.
A few things that frame the scale:
- eBay's passkey data shows 55-60% of passkey adoption happens on mobile, against around 20% on desktop.
A question worth separating out:
Q: How can organisations reduce phishing risk in passwordless environments?
A: They should extend identity assurance beyond login by signing email and documents with certificates. That way, the organisation can validate not just who authenticated, but whether downstream communications and approvals came from a trusted identity. This matters because phishing often targets workflow trust rather than the initial sign-in.
👉 Read our full editorial: Passwordless authentication and zero trust: what changes for IAM
This post was modified 4 days ago by NHI Mgmt Group