Legacy Tech Hampers Workplace Passwordless Shift: Study

Delinea, a prominent provider of seamless Privileged Access Management (PAM) solutions, has released a comprehensive report shedding light on the future of passwords, offering insights into the evolution of authentication and access within workplaces. Titled “The Future of Workplace Passwords: Not Dead, but Evolving,” the report reveals that 68% of 300 US IT decision makers believe passwords are not obsolete. Among this group, 53% posit that passwords are transforming into something new.

Conducted by Censuswide on behalf of Delinea, the survey aimed to explore the future of workplace passwords in the context of the growing popularity of alternative authentication methods in consumer technology, such as smartphones, personal email accounts, and mobile apps. Results indicate that familiar solutions from personal lives are likely to replace passwords in the workplace, including biometrics (58%), other multi-factor authentication (MFA) technologies (46%), one-time passwords (37%), and Passkeys (35%).

Chris Smith, Chief Marketing Officer at Delinea, remarked, “The passwordless evolution won’t happen overnight, and organizations need to ensure that they are taking necessary steps to avoid introducing new risk into the workplace by trying to move beyond passwords too quickly.”

The survey exposed that most organizations are still years away from achieving a passwordless reality. While 30% have initiated this transition, 36% anticipate being 1-2 years away, and 21% acknowledge being 3-4 years away. Obstacles include legacy platforms and apps requiring passwords and MFA (43%), the need for consistent authentication methods across all platforms (37%), and employees unfamiliar with or distrustful of passwordless processes (28%). Additionally, 95% of respondents emphasized compliance requirements, complicating the adaptation to new authentication methods.

Despite these challenges, 35% expect MFA challenges at login for accessing workplace systems, and 19% envision a future without usernames or passwords. Nearly 60% revealed that their organizations use a PAM solution to manage workplace passwords. PAM solutions, when combined with biometrics and other authentication technologies, facilitate a least privilege approach and federate access to resources without the productivity-reducing demands of passwords.

The report also delves into perspectives on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its role in cybersecurity. While 83% view AI as a defender, half of these respondents acknowledge its potential threat.