The Security Benefits of WebAuthn

Read full article here: https://www.slashid.com/blog/webauthn-compliance/?source=nhimg

WebAuthn, the W3C’s web authentication standard introduced in 2016, offers a phishing-resistant, passwordless authentication method that uses public-key cryptography to protect accounts, prevent credential reuse, and meet strict regulatory requirements like HIPAA in the U.S. and PSD2’s Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) in the EU.

With ~93% browser support, WebAuthn enables secure key generation and storage through platform authenticators (Windows Hello, TouchID, FaceID) or roaming authenticators (YubiKey, Titan Key). The private key never leaves the secure element (e.g., Apple Secure Enclave or TPM), making credential extraction nearly impossible, even in the event of device compromise.

Key Regulatory Advantages

• HIPAA Compliance - Meets two of the three mandated identity verification factors (“something you have” and “something you are” or “know”) in a single flow, reducing user friction while strengthening security for protected health information.

• PSD2 / SCA Compliance - Satisfies strong customer authentication requirements by combining possession (security key/device) with inherence (biometric) or knowledge (PIN). Works with both hardware and platform authenticators, aligning with European banking technical standards.

Security Strengths

• Phishing Resistance - Requires TLS, enforces strict browser origin checks, and only works in active browser contexts, making classic phishing domains useless.

• Key Protection - Private keys remain in secure hardware modules (e.g., Secure Enclave, TPM), immune to OS-level compromise. Biometric or PIN verification occurs locally and is never transmitted.

• Reduced Credential Risk - Eliminates static passwords and prevents credential reuse, blocking entire classes of automated attacks.

Why It Matters

WebAuthn offers organizations a path to meet or exceed regulatory mandates like HIPAA and PSD2 while delivering a user-friendly, passwordless login experience. By securing credentials in hardware and tying authentication to verified devices, it closes major attack vectors that legacy MFA and password systems still leave open.

Bottom Line:

For industries under strict compliance obligations—healthcare, finance, government—WebAuthn is not just a security upgrade; it’s a regulatory enabler that dramatically reduces phishing, account takeover, and credential stuffing risks while improving usability.