Passwords are Dead: Why Strong Authentication is Your Only Defence Against Modern Cyber Threats

For decades we’ve heard about the necessity of strong passwords for our users, with password advice such as using three random words, including at least sixteen characters, and adding in numbers and symbols all contributing to the creation of secure and robust passwords. These measures are designed to make it significantly harder for unauthorised individuals to gain access to your accounts and, indeed, are good advice to follow in cases where a password must be generated.  

Still, it’s important we remember that traditional password-based authentication is no longer sufficient to protect companies from security breaches. Indeed, the reliance on static credentials has proven to be a weak link in cyber security measures in recent times, with attackers employing various methods (exploiting poor password hygiene, deploying phishing attacks, attempting credential stuffing, etc.) all to gain unauthorised access to critical systems.  

I’d also go so far to say that passwords, especially when we have good ones, can offer a false sense of security at times. This way of thinking goes hand-in-hand with the mindset that compliance with password policies is more of a ‘security checkbox’ exercise than anything else. You see, meeting the minimum requirement set by industry standards and regulations, i.e., a nice strong password, can lead us to believe we’re ‘safe’ in a way. However, this way of thinking leaves organisations vulnerable to advanced cyber threats that outpace compliance frameworks and traditional security best practices. 

As I see it, to truly future proof our security, organisations must prioritise authentication resilience by adopting robust, proactive, and combined security measures that are forward-thinking and go beyond compliance.  

Password-based security has inherent weaknesses 

The fundamental flaw with using passwords as a primary method of authentication is a human one.  

That’s because, despite advice, many users choose weak or easily guessable passwords or reuse their passwords across multiple accounts. Humans are also at risk of falling victim to social engineering tactics, which are designed to exploit our psychology and manipulate us into divulging confidential information or performing actions that compromise security.  

Even when companies enforce strong password policies, such as requiring complex characters and mandating frequent password changes, the security benefit is marginal at best. 

This is because cyber-criminals use advanced tools, including brute-force attacks (where attackers use automated tools to try every possible combination of characters until they find the correct password), keylogging (malicious software or hardware devices that record every keystroke a user makes) or rainbow table attacks (precomputed tables of hash values for all possible password combinations) to crack passwords. They may also gain access through data breaches like those that have exposed millions of user credentials from major companies. 

Indeed, the widespread availability of stolen credentials on the dark web further exacerbates the risk of relying on passwords, even excellent ones(!), making it easier for attackers to compromise accounts.  

Given these vulnerabilities, it’s pretty obvious that businesses must move towards a more resilient approach to authentication ... 

The rise of multi-factor authentication (MFA) 

The good news is that MFA is a significant step towards improving authentication security and its adoption is on the rise thanks to mobile phones and other consumer technologies making it easy to receive one-time passcodes (OTP) or use biometric authentication features, e.g.  

By requiring multiple forms of verification, i.e., something you know (a password), something you have (a device or token), and something you are (biometrics), MFA makes it significantly harder for attackers to gain unauthorised access. Even if a password is compromised, an additional authentication factor serves as a strong deterrent against breaches, blocking cyber-criminals from exploiting stolen credentials and significantly enhancing overall security. 

However – and perhaps you saw this coming – not all MFA methods are equally secure. SMS-based MFA, for example, while better than passwords alone, is vulnerable to SIM swapping and interception. A more resilient approach would involve using hardware security keys, authenticator apps, or the abovementioned biometric authentication; all of which offer stronger security against phishing and man-in-the-middle attacks. 

Passwordless authentication: the future of secure access? 

As the limitations of passwords become evermore apparent, many organisations are turning towards passwordless forms of authentication to help secure and future-proof things. 

As the name suggests, this approach eliminates passwords altogether, therefore reducing the risk of credential theft and, for the most part, improving the user experience to boot – after all, it’s more convenient!  

Passwordless authentication methods include: 

• Biometric authentication – fingerprint scanning, facial recognition, and voice authentication provide secure and convenient access without requiring users to remember complex passwords. 

• Hardware security keys - physical security keys, such as YubiKeys, offer strong protection against phishing attacks by requiring users to verify their identity using a dedicated device. 

• Single sign-on (SSO) and federated identity - SSO solutions streamline authentication by allowing users to access multiple systems with a single, secure login, reducing password fatigue and security risks. 

• Device-based authentication - trusted devices, such as smartphones or workstations, can also serve as an authentication factor, enabling seamless yet secure access via things like authentication apps or push notifications. 

An unforeseen bonus of adopting passwordless authentication is that it not only enhances security but also improves productivity by reducing login friction and password-related support requests – worth remembering if you’re looking to streamline your organisation's IT processes and enhance user satisfaction. 

Zero Trust and authentication resilience 

It would be hard to write an article on authentication resilience without a mention of Zero Trust to help strengthen the approach. Zero Trust operates on the principle of “never trust, always verify,” ensuring that every access request is scrutinised regardless of its origin. For example, Zero Trust authentication might include: 

• Continuous authentication - instead of verifying users only at login, continuous authentication monitors behaviour, device health, and context throughout the session to detect anomalies and prevent unauthorised access. 

• Risk-based authentication – using adaptive authentication mechanisms to assess the risk level of each login attempt and enforce additional security measures when suspicious activity is detected. 

• Identity and access management (IAM) - robust IAM frameworks help enforce least-privilege access, ensuring that users only have access to the resources necessary for their roles and nothing more.  

How to implement strong authentication for your organisation 

Whilst it’s always worth consulting with security professionals to ensure that vulnerabilities across your IT estate are identified and mitigated, there are a few best practices that any organisation can adopt to enhance authentication resilience and make the shift towards passwordless methods. These include:  

1. Enforcing MFA for all accounts: Implementing MFA across all critical systems and services significantly reduces the risk of unauthorised access. 
2. Eliminating password dependencies: Transition to passwordless authentication methods to enhance security and user experience. 
3. Educating employees: Regular training on phishing awareness, social engineering tactics, and secure authentication practices can help prevent credential theft. 
4. Utilising strong authentication methods: This includes the preferential use of hardware security keys, biometric authentication, and app-based MFA over SMS-based authentication. 
5. Implementing Zero Trust security principles: Ensure continuous authentication and least-privilege access to minimise security risks. 
6. Monitoring and responding to authentication threats: Use real-time monitoring and analytics to detect and mitigate authentication-based threats before they escalate. 

Final word 

In a world where cyber security threats are evolving at an unprecedented pace, it’s time the era of password-based security came to an end. It’s sad but true that traditional authentication methods are no longer sufficient to protect business assets sufficiently.  

However, by adopting strong authentication strategies such as MFA and passwordless authentication along with Zero Trust principles, organisations can significantly enhance their authentication resilience, reduce the risk of breaches, and quite possibly gain a competitive edge inside a security-conscious world. 

Remember, organisations must prioritise security measures that align with the modern threat landscape, ensuring that authentication is both robust and user-friendly. Right now, authentication resilience is one way to stay ahead of today’s cyber threats and secure the future of your organisation. 

I am Sean Tickle, Cyber Services Director at Littlefish, a UK-based managed IT, cyber security, and Microsoft business solutions service provider. We deliver enhanced user experiences, improved customer satisfaction, and authentic business value 24//7 to more than 130,000 IT users.