A recent study conducted by the FIDO Alliance has revealed that 87% of companies are currently in the process of implementing passkeys within their organizations. The primary goals behind this initiative are to enhance user experience, improve security, and ensure compliance with industry regulations.
One of the key findings of the study is that a majority of decision makers (87%) have already started deploying passkeys within their companies. In fact, 47% of these organizations are rolling out a combination of device-bound passkeys (stored on physical security keys or cards) and synced passkeys (synchronized securely across multiple user devices).
These passkey rollouts are being prioritized for employees who have access to sensitive data and applications. The three most common priority groups identified by organizations are those who require access to intellectual property (39%), users with administrative accounts (39%), and executive-level employees (34%). To encourage adoption, companies are leveraging communication, training, and documentation as part of their deployment strategies.
The implementation of passkeys has been associated with significant security and business benefits, according to respondents. These benefits include positive impacts on user experience (82%), security (90%), reduction in help center calls (77%), improved productivity (73%), and advancement of digital transformation goals (83%).
However, some groups that have not yet implemented passkey projects cite concerns such as complexity (43%), costs (33%), and a lack of clarity around implementation (29%). This highlights the need for additional education and resources to support enterprises in their passkey rollout strategies.
In response to the growing threat of AI-driven attacks, the FIDO Alliance is working to accelerate passkey adoption among enterprises. CEO and executive director Andrew Shikiar emphasized the importance of passkeys in combating AI-generated social engineering attacks, while also increasing employee productivity and reducing costs associated with security breaches.
As the report notes, new phishing and fraud attempts are constantly evolving, driven in part by the widespread use of generative AI technology. Enterprise leaders are recognizing the limitations of traditional passwords and are increasingly turning to more secure and user-friendly authentication methods like passkeys to protect their organizations.
By addressing the perceived barriers to passkey adoption, the FIDO Alliance aims to help more enterprises reap the benefits of enhanced security and improved user experience on a global scale. Through education and resources, companies can better understand the value of passkeys in mitigating security risks and staying ahead of evolving cyber threats.