Microsoft Passkeys: Passwords are now superfluous

With Microsoft Passkeys, the tech giant wants to do away with passwords completely in the long term. Microsoft Passkeys already allow customers to log in to all Microsoft services and accounts without a password. This should ensure greater account security in the future, as Microsoft Passkeys are considered to be considerably more secure than passwords.

Not only Microsoft has passkeys

Microsoft is by no means the only company to use passkeys instead of passwords. Google, WhatsApp and PayPal have also already started to do away with passwords. Passkey technology therefore comes in handy for all these companies.

Passkeys are a very secure method of account security because they cannot be copied. These include biometric methods such as facial recognition, fingerprint scanning or PINs for websites and applications.

Microsoft Passkeys are now available for all accounts in all applications provided by Microsoft. Vice President of Security at Microsoft Vasu Jakkal and President of Network Access at Microsoft Joy Chik made the announcement publicly in a company blog post. This means that users can now log in to all applications using a passkey.

Microsoft Passkeys work in mobile browsers as well as on desktops. Microsoft Passkeys will also be activated for mobile versions of the applications in the near future.

Users can store their Microsoft Passkey online and specify how they want to log in to their Microsoft account in future.

You can choose between facial recognition, fingerprint, PIN and a security key.

Microsoft is thus completing a process that began almost 10 years ago, when they started eliminating passwords with Windows Hello in 2015. A lot has happened in these almost 10 years and passwords are hardly a secure protection anymore.

Microsoft Passkeys will soon replace passwords completely.

Microsoft Passkeys prevent phishing and other hacker attacks

It is well known that passwords are no longer the most secure way to protect your own accounts. Not only are they easy to copy, many passwords are also widely used and work for different accounts. So if hackers have cracked the password to one account, it is not unlikely that this password - or a simple variation - has also been used for other accounts.

Passkeys, on the other hand, are unique and only work for the account for which the passkey was created. This prevents phishing, as the encrypted methods of the passkeys cannot be copied.

In a way, passkeys are a form of 2-factor authentication. However, passkeys go one step further. While the end device is required as with 2FA, the password is no longer one of the factors. Instead, a unique feature such as facial recognition or a fingerprint is used. Access therefore requires both the end device and the unique, uncopyable feature.

Passkeys are currently regarded as the most secure method of protecting online accounts and access to applications. With Microsoft Passkeys, Microsoft is taking a huge step towards security.

Always safe on the road with skill it

In our seminars, we show you how to use Microsoft applications safely at all times.

In the course Microsoft Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals you will learn the basics for a secure interface with Microsoft and how to implement them.

Or sharpen your skills and become a Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect in our dedicated training.

‍