The Password is Dead. Long Live the Passkey!
There is no doubt that passwords have become a huge pain for everyone. Adding multifactor authentication just adds to this frustration. Enter the passkey, a new and much safer way to log into your accounts. This isn't just a convenience; it's a significant leap forward in security.
What Exactly is a Passkey?
Think of a passkey as a digital key that lives on your device—your computer, phone, or tablet. Instead of you typing in a password, your device uses biometrics (your fingerprint or face) or the same PIN you use to unlock it to prove it’s you.
It's based on a clever technology called public-key cryptography. When you create a passkey for a website, two unique keys are generated: a public key that gets stored by the website and a private key that is stored securely on your device. The two keys have to work together to unlock your account. This means that even if a hacker manages to breach the website’s servers, they can't steal your password because there isn't one to steal! Your private key never leaves your device.
The Benefits for Your Business
For small businesses, the advantages are clear:
- Drastically Improved Security: Passkeys are resistant to phishing, the common scam where criminals trick you into entering your password on a fake website. Since your private key is tied to the real website, it simply won't work on a fraudulent one. This alone can prevent a major security breach.
- Effortless Ease of Use: Logging in becomes as simple as unlocking your phone. No more typing P@ssw0rd123! or frantically searching for that sticky note where you wrote down your login. (hopefully you are using a password manager and not sticky notes.) This saves time for you and your employees every single day.
- No More Password Resets: Think about how much time is wasted when an employee forgets a password and needs an administrator to reset it. Passkeys eliminate this hassle entirely.
Managing Your Passkeys with a Password Manager
So, where do you store these digital keys? While your passkeys can be stored directly on your devices (like in your Apple or Google account), using a dedicated password manager is a more robust solution, especially for a business. A password manager acts as a secure digital vault for all your logins, including your new passkeys.
Your new digital keys need a safe place to live. You have a two great options:
- Dedicated Password Managers: For the most flexibility, especially in a business environment where you use a mix of Windows, Apple, and Android devices, a password manager is your best bet. They act as a secure digital vault for all your logins. Two excellent choices that fully support passkeys are 1Password and Bitwarden. They allow you to use your passkeys seamlessly across all your different devices. (It's wise to avoid services like LastPass, which has a history of security problems.)
- Built-in Device Options: If you and your business operate primarily within one ecosystem, you can use the built-in option. Apple's iCloud Keychain is a fantastic, seamless way to create and sync passkeys across your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Similarly, Microsoft uses Windows Hello, which lets you sign in with your face, fingerprint, or a PIN to create and secure a passkey directly on your Windows PC. Google offers a similar experience for Android and Chrome users.
The move to passkeys is happening now, with major companies like Google, Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon leading the charge. As a business owner, embracing this change not only simplifies your digital life but also erects a powerful new wall to protect your valuable business data from criminals. It’s one of the easiest and most effective security upgrades you can make.
