We enforce two-step login, also known as multi-factor authentication, across every account we manage. It’s the single most effective security control most businesses can put in place, and it’s something we talk about often.
Passwordless authentication takes the same underlying idea a step further: removing the password from the login process entirely.
What is passwordless authentication?
Passwords are, by a wide margin, the weakest part of most login processes. They get reused across accounts, written down, shared, and guessed. Passwordless authentication replaces the password itself with something stronger: a registered device, a biometric check like a fingerprint or face scan, or a security key, combined with the same second-factor verification already used in standard MFA.
In practice, this usually means a user logs in by approving a prompt on their phone, or using Windows Hello or Face ID on their device, rather than typing a password at all.
Why this matters
It removes the weakest link. A password that doesn’t exist can’t be guessed, reused, phished, or leaked in a data breach. A significant proportion of account compromise attempts rely on a stolen, weak, or reused password as the starting point. Removing the password removes that entry point entirely.
It reduces help desk pressure. Password reset requests are one of the most common categories of helpdesk ticket. Removing passwords from the login process for supported accounts reduces this overhead, freeing up time for issues that actually need a person to look at them.
It’s more convenient, not less secure. A common misconception is that better security means more friction. Passwordless authentication is typically faster for the end user — a face scan or a device prompt takes less time than typing and remembering a complex password — while being significantly harder to compromise.
How this fits with what we already manage for you
For Network Fish managed support clients, we already enforce multi-factor authentication across every account and platform. Passwordless authentication builds directly on top of this, rather than replacing it, since the strongest setups combine a passwordless login method with the same device-based or biometric verification used in MFA today.
For clients on Microsoft 365, this is particularly relevant. Microsoft Entra ID, the identity and access platform we configure and manage as part of your Microsoft 365 security, includes native passwordless authentication options, including Windows Hello for Business, the Microsoft Authenticator app, and FIDO2 security keys. For many businesses, the path to passwordless doesn’t mean buying new software — it means properly configuring capability that’s already included in your existing Microsoft 365 licence.
Is passwordless authentication right for your business?
It’s worth considering if:
- you’re already enforcing MFA and want to take the next step in reducing password-related risk
- your team frequently raises password reset requests with your helpdesk
- you’re reviewing your Microsoft Entra ID configuration as part of a broader security review
We assess this as part of your Microsoft 365 security configuration, and can advise on whether moving towards passwordless authentication makes sense for your business, and what that would involve in practice.
Want to know more?
If you’d like to discuss whether passwordless authentication is a good fit for your business, get in touch, or speak to us as part of your next site survey.
