Passwordless authentication is an authentication method in which a user can log in to a computer system without entering (and having to remember) a password or any other knowledge-based secret. In most common implementations users are asked to enter their public identifier (username, phone number, email address, etc.) and then complete the authentication process by providing a secure proof of identity through a registered device or token.

The idea is gaining momentum as companies struggle to bolster data security without imposing too much burden on users. According to a research study conducted by Gartner Inc., within 2022, around 60% of large and global enterprises and 90% of midsize enterprises are likely to implement passwordless authentication methods in more than 50% of use cases — up from 5% in 2018.[1]

As with any rapidly emerging technology that has not yet gained widespread acceptance, passwordless authentication is susceptible to several myths and inaccurate representations.

In this article, we highlight some of the most common myths and misconceptions associated with passwordless authentication.

1. Passwordless Authentication can be expensive to implement. Is it?

While there may be an initial investment to implement passwordless authentication, the savings and benefits are multifold in the long run. You’ll not have to spend on secure storage, management, and password reset with a passwordless solution.

Sawo takes this task makes it even easier. It literally charges 0 $ for developers and almost nothing for Teams/Organizations

Instead of having an in-house development team, utilizing an experienced service provider like SAWO to deploy passwordless authentication can help decrease authentication costs by up to 4 times.

2. Passwordless authentication is less secure. But are you sure?

People believe that not having a password in place makes the authentication process less safe, which is a common fallacy coming from the term "passwordless." This is not the case, however. Passwords can be readily guessed, phished, forgotten, or stolen, making password-based authentication one of the least secure modes of authentication.

Users receive an OTP through email, cell phone, or SMS when using passwordless authentication. This is used to securely connect to their accounts without fear of password theft, brute force attacks, spoofing password reset requests, phishing attempts, and other threats. When compared to other forms of authentication, this type of strong authentication is the most secure.

Sawo is one such passwordless authentication provider that works on similar grounds and makes the whole process more secure than password-based authentication systems.

3. Passwordless authentication requires a lot of time and energy to implement. Umm. try SAWO once. 😉

In a passwordless environment, users can opt for biometric verification or get one-time passwords (OTPs) by email or mobile device, which can be used to securely authenticate them. The implementation and integration times for most passwordless authentication solutions are only a few minutes at most.

Passwordless authentication can be implemented on your product in as little as 6 minutes by current authentication technology companies like SAWO Labs.

4. Passwordless user journey can’t integrate well with our existing product

When organizations make significant modifications to their products, consumer comfort and acceptance are understandably a major concern - after all, why fix something that isn't broken?

But just because something isn't broken doesn't mean it isn't vulnerable. You can protect your users' data while also saving a lot of money by moving to a more secure type of authentication.

In truth, the user experience isn't nearly as difficult as it appears. If users are effectively directed through the process, they can quickly adopt any authentication technique. The passwordless authentication procedure is intuitive, has a low learning curve, and is simple to deploy for both users and the platform, especially in the case of solutions like SAWO.

5. Passwordless authentication can provide a poor user experience

That is not the case! Users do not have to worry about remembering and inputting complex passwords that incorporate phrases, names, numbers, special characters, and uppercase letters in a passwordless environment.

Having a password-based authentication system, on the other hand, has been demonstrated to result in a greater bounce rate in research. According to a Forbes survey, a passwordless MFA technique has a 99 percent login success rate, compared to only 56 percent for password-based approaches. In terms of user experience, the majority of poll participants agreed that passwordless login was far more convenient.

Resetting lost passwords, in fact, adds a layer of complexity to password-based logins, resulting in a bad user experience. Due to a variety of causes, the reset may not be successful, resulting in users being locked out of their accounts and unable to access them despite their needs.

Summing Up

Businesses believe their product does not require a passwordless authenticator, which is the biggest barrier to acceptance for innovative authentication systems. However, as discussed in the preceding points, this stance may prove costly in the long run.

Passwordless authentication is a need, not a luxury, in the present digitalized society, where things move quickly and bad actors are always on the lookout. Sign up with SAWO Labs to use passwordless authentication on your platform without breaking the bank and without worrying about data security.

SAWO Labs, for example, provides high-quality customer success solutions that can be seamlessly integrated into your product without causing significant downtime. Now you may try the SAWO API for free! Start interactive discussions with the SAWO Discord community of over 5000 members.