What Is Passwordless Authentication & How Does It Work?
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The age of passwords is over.
Nearly half of organizations experienced data breaches in 2024, and 87% of those breaches were tied to identity vulnerabilities. It’s clear passwords and other legacy methods are proving too easy for attackers to exploit, especially as AI-driven threats continue to evolve.
That’s why more organizations are asking: What is passwordless authentication, and can it actually deliver a better way to manage access?
Unlike traditional logins, passwordless authentication removes the need to remember or enter a password. It replaces that step with secure alternatives like passkeys, smart cards or mobile credentials.
Understanding how passwordless authentication works is key to adopting a more secure and user-friendly approach to identity verification.
Passwordless authentication is a method of verifying identity without requiring a user to enter a traditional password. Instead, it relies on more secure and convenient methods such as biometrics, smart cards or mobile credentials.
These methods verify identity based on something the user has (like a badge or smart card) or is (like a fingerprint or Face ID), rather than something the user knows (like a password or PIN).
Here’s how passwordless authentication typically works:
Security standards like FIDO2 enable passwordless workflows by supporting encrypted key exchanges and binding credentials to specific devices.
Passwordless authentication doesn’t just eliminate the headache of managing passwords. It strengthens security, simplifies access and supports compliance across a wide range of industries.
Some environments demand fast, secure access without added complexity. Passwordless authentication is a natural fit in industries where compliance, user efficiency and security go hand-in-hand.
As identity threats grow more sophisticated, traditional passwords are no longer enough to protect users or systems. Passwordless authentication offers a more secure and efficient way forward, reducing friction, improving compliance and closing the gaps left by outdated login methods.
Whether you’re looking to strengthen access in clinical settings, on the manufacturing floor or across a distributed enterprise, adopting passwordless technology doesn’t have to mean starting from scratch.
Solutions like our WAVE ID® readers and ConvergeID™ passwordless platform enable phased deployment of modern authentication—without disrupting your existing workflows.
Contact us to learn how rf IDEAS can help you make the transition to passwordless authentication.