Passwordless authentication is far more secure than passwords, which are responsible for over 80% of breaches. It gives organizations certainty of identity and keeps your sensitive data safe. What about the user experience (UX), though?

Any effort you make to improve your security must consider the user experience. No matter how great it is or how well it works, the UX can be the difference between success and failure in adoption rates. If your security efforts are complex or cumbersome, users will find ways around it, making your resources even less secure. 

Below, we’ll explain why you should move to passwordless MFA. Your users will thank you and you will eliminate password-based attacks.

The UX advantages of passwordless authentication

The UX advantage of passwordless authentication isn’t just limited to how easily employees can log in to their applications. Passwordless authentication solves UX issues that are presented by passwords and password-based MFA.

Eliminating password UX issues

Passwords aren’t only a security issue, they are also a user experience issue.

Some employees rely on memory when entering in their usernames and passwords. The problem with this is that memories are notoriously fallible and the brain cannot possibly remember the average 191 passwords they need to access all of their different resources. 

When inevitably people can’t remember their password, they have to call the help desk to reset their password, and then try and remember the new one they just picked going forward. It’s a never-ending terrible user experience. 

Other companies have policies of changing passwords every few weeks or months. Whenever these alerts appear, it disrupts workflows and productivity and leaves employees scrambling to update in time in order to avoid being locked out of their critical applications. 

All of these password issues are highly disruptive to your employees. Passwordless authentication removes these pain points for your users and improves their productivity. By eliminating passwords you remove the need for resets and all the time and money they cost. 

Eliminating MFA’s UX issues 

Most MFA works by using a password as one factor and then sending a one-time passcode to a secondary device that the recipient must enter as the second factor. While most solutions send these codes to a mobile device, some send the codes to an email address.

But what happens if the user's push notifications aren't working correctly or never receive the text? Or what if the user has lost their phone? The process breaks down, and the user has no way in. Even if the user has their second device on hand, it’s a frustrating disruption while working and results in lost productivity.

On top of it all, these MFA solutions still rely on a password as one of their factors, so all of the password UX issues still persist.  

Passwordless MFA eliminates the need for a second device since all the security checks are done behind the scenes. There’s no code to enter and no disruption to workflow, just a simple biometric scan. It’s a seamless and frictionless authentication experience resulting in a better UX.

Passwordless MFA and UX: What to Look For

Not all passwordless MFA is created equal. It is not enough to just eliminate the password itself: the user needs to see a real benefit from it, both in the convenience and ease of use, or else it will suffer from low adoption. 

You don’t want to trade support calls about password issues for calls about MFA issues. You need a passwordless MFA solution that does not utilize a second device. If you have to go grab your phone to log in to your computer it is not solving the MFA UX issue. The most secure authentication method must be the shortest and easiest path, otherwise users will try to find shortcuts or workarounds. If that happens, all your hard work to secure your organization’s network will be for naught. 

Passwordless MFA with Beyond Identity

Beyond Identity’s solutions are genuinely passwordless. Instead of a password on the backend, the credential is cryptographically tied to the user. That means no more password resets, no more trying to remember long passwords, no more password issues ever.

Beyond Identity uses only the strongest authentication factors to verify users and devices: biometrics, cryptographic security keys, and device-level security checks. It’s simple and easy to use, and the security checks run seamlessly in the background without disruptions to productivity. There’s not a code that is easy to intercept or annoying to grab from your second device. 

For workforce employees it is as simple as users opening their SaaS app, inputting their username, clicking next, providing their device-level biometric, and they’re in. You can see for yourself how much quicker and easier our login process is than other MFA solutions:

Beyond Identity’s product works with every major operating system, so there’s no concern about our solution not integrating with the myriad of devices customers and employees use. 

Secure Work brings passwordless authentication to your workforce, integrating into the most popular single sign-on platforms, often in under 30 minutes. It allows for your employees to access their critical resources securely while not experiencing authentication disruptions. 

Our Secure Customers product offers a passwordless login for your customers so you can make a zero-friction authentication experience a reality. There’s no need for security questions at checkout or customer calls to help desks about authentication issues with their subscription service. 

You can learn more about Beyond Identity and see how it works.