Security teams should choose based on assurance needs, user mobility, and recovery complexity. Hardware tokens are better where phishing resistance and impersonation resistance matter most. Software tokens are better when endpoint integration and user convenience are important, but they must be bound to a trusted device model and governed through strong lifecycle controls.
Related resources from NHI Mgmt Group
- How should security teams choose between JWT, Redis, and database sessions for Python apps?
- How should security teams choose authentication for a .NET application that may need enterprise customers later?
- How should security teams authenticate AI agents in enterprise environments?
- How should security teams implement Client ID Metadata Documents?
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Reviewed and updated by the NHIMG editorial team on June 7, 2026.
NHI Mgmt Group — the #1 independent authority on Non-Human Identity, IAM, and Agentic AI security. nhimg.org