How to Implement Passwordless Credential Management with Azure?

If the recent HAFNIUM zero-day cyberattacks and the Solorigate hacks are any indications, the scale and complexity of cybercrime are on the rise, with most of such attacks directed at passwords. Microsoft has been hard at work to patch vulnerabilities and strengthen the security of its products. As a part of its broader campaign to improve security and user experience, Microsoft has made significant progress in passwordless technology. With this capability, users are spared the hassle of clearing an additional security layer on top of having to remember their passwords. In this article, let us understand how to implement passwordless credential management with Azure.

What Are the Advantages Of Microsoft Passwordless Authentication?

Microsoft Passwordless authentication revolutionizes the way systems are protected against sophisticated cyber threats while improving user-convenience. Here are the advantages of implementing Microsoft Passwordless Authentication with Azure.

• Enhances Protection

  Implementing passwordless protection denies attackers the most vulnerable and widely exploited attack surface for phishing and other forms of exploits.

• Improves User-Experience

  Passwordless protection eliminates the need to remember long, complex passwords, that must be unique and need to be changed frequently. Users can access Microsoft applications and services conveniently.

• Deep Insights

  Passwordless authentication provides organizations deep insights into logging and auditing with detailed reports.

What Is The Different Microsoft Passwordless Authentication Methods?

Microsoft has introduced three passwordless authentication options for covering a wide range of scenarios in which these methods can be used individually, or in tandem. Here are the different Passwordless authentication methods by Microsoft.

• Passwordless Authentication with Windows Hello for Business

  Windows Hello for Business is the ideal solution for authenticating users who have been assigned Windows PCs. With this method, the biometric and PIN credentials are linked with the PC allowing only the owner to access it. Windows Hello for Business leverages the integration of public key infrastructure (PKI) and single sign-on (SSO) to allow users to access corporate resources, whether they are on-premises, or in the cloud.

• Microsoft Authenticator App as Passwordless Option

  Although employees in many organizations are already using Microsoft Authenticator App to supplement their passwords in a multi-factor authentication setup, it can also be used as a replacement for passwords. With this method, the number that is generated on the browser or device used to access the account has to be entered on an iOS or Android phone with the Microsoft Authenticator App. This is followed by biometric (touch or face) or PIN confirmation to provide access. Although the authentication process is similar to that of Windows Hello for Business, it is more complicated as user identification is involved for Azure AD to find the Microsoft Authenticator App version.

• Passwordless Authentication with FIDO2 Security Keys

  Fast IDentity Online (FIDO) is an open standard for passwordless authentication that allows users and organizations to sign in to their resources without relying on a username or password with either an external security key or a platform key built into a device. FIDO2 keys are available as hardware, (USB, Bluetooth, or even NFC), that can be used to access Azure AD or hybrid Azure AD joined Windows 10 devices using single sign-on (SSO) for cloud and on-premises resources.

Apps4Rent Can Help With Azure Passwordless Authentication

Microsoft continues to add a slew of updates to the passwordless authentication methods, including the Temporary Access Pass, which generates a time-limited passcode for setting up security keys and the Microsoft Authenticator without using a password. With such a wide range of options, a company’s security, platform, and app requirements play a major role in determining the passwordless authentication method to be implemented.

As a Tier 1 Microsoft CSP, Apps4Rent can help organizations plan and implement a passwordless authentication deployment in Azure Active Directory, based on their unique requirements. Contact our Microsoft certified Azure cloud security consultants available 24/7 via phone, chat, and email for assistance.