Why SaaS Applications Benefit from Using Mobile Passkeys

It has been well reported that Apple introduced mobile passkeys to individual users as a step forward from antiquated passwords. A mobile passkey is a digital credential linked to a user account and a SaaS platform or application. It authenticates user accounts without having to enter log-in user credentials like a username and password each time. It has since been adopted and rolled out across different operating systems, including Android.

Along with the launch of Android and Google Chrome’s passkey feature, Google’s Vice-President Parisa Tabriz explains how this can bring several benefits to end-users and companies. Among these, she cites the critical advantages of increased protection, seamless platform transfer, and better insights.

Increased Protection

Cybersecurity breaches are among the biggest threats to companies in the digital age, which has led to a massive demand for cybersecurity professionals, particularly in terms of information security. Maryville University underscores the need for information security managers, as they stay abreast of the latest technological trends, such as passkeys, and can provide security training to members of an organization. This includes spotting phishing tactics, which has become a significant issue across industries. In our ‘Passkey Authentication 101’ post, we reported that 89% of organizations experienced a phishing incident in the past year alone. Multiple steps in the log-in process make users more vulnerable to phishing attacks. With passkeys, users won’t have to input sensitive log-in information on web pages, which can easily be faked or hacked. As Tabriz said, passkeys, along with existing device locks (such as fingerprint log-in), may significantly bring down these phishing scams.

Seamless Device Authentication

Tabriz goes on to expound on the advantages of passkeys in keeping businesses safe online. She says that passkeys, also known as FIDO authentication, allow users to log into an app, site, or platform with just a username and a pre-authenticated device. This means that managers can pre-approve and monitor company devices. Make Use Of explains how this transfer can work across different operating systems, from Apple and Android to Windows.

Employees won’t be limited to working on just a single device. They’ll be free to work seamlessly on different devices within the company’s ecosystem without the risk of cyber-attacks. Additionally, this allows the team to work more efficiently. For instance, if a key employee is suddenly out of the office, the team won’t be locked out of crucial company computers. Passkeys can be modified to grant access to multiple employees without the need to share a password.

Better Insights

With mobile passkeys and a business password manager, you can gain important information and data across multiple teams and accounts. Tabriz highlights how nearly half of today’s workforce spends a significant part of their workday on browser-based software. That amount of usage could provide valuable insights, especially with passkeys.

For example, passkeys could generate reports that include information on the strength of passwords across your organization. It could also track data on how many log-ins are done each day, by whom, and during which time. This can be used to gauge productivity and, consequently, to help find ways to improve workflow and operations.

Passkeys are still in their genesis, and they show much promise. At the rate it’s being adopted by different operating systems, it’s only a matter of time before it becomes standard for user authentication across professional organizations and companies.

written for VaultVision.com

by Rubee Jayla