14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is one of the companies that are trying to move to a password-less world without compromising user and data security, and its investments in biometrics and alternative authentication methods are living proof.
More recently, the company partnered with Yubico, the maker of YubiKey USB authentication dongles, for the launch of Yubico Security Key with support for Windows 10 and Azure Active Directory.
In other words, users will be able to log into Windows 10 and Azure Active Directory without a password, but instead benefiting from the security and convenience provided by a dongle.
The Security Key will be available for just $20 and will support the FIDO2/WebAuthn standard, which itself will be implemented into Windows 10 in the future. The dongle uses a USB-A interface, and at 3 grams, it’s extremely easy to carry it around wherever you go. There’s no battery, and it’s waterproof, with Yubico recommending customers to attach it to their keychains for maximum convenience.
FIDO2 password-less support in preview
Yubico’s new device can be used for both first and second-factor hardware-based authentication, and it can be used for a wide variety of services, including Facebook, Gmail, Salesforce, GitHub, or Dropbox.
“FIDO2 and the Security Key are delivering on trusted, touch-and-go authentication for the modern, flexible and mobile workforce that is meeting the needs of our on-demand society. Together, these technologies will be integrated into many verticals including: retail, healthcare, transportation, finance, manufacturing, and more,” Yubico said.
Microsoft is already offering support for FIDO2 password-less logins as part of its Windows Technology Adoption Program, but the company should release it to more enterprises in the near future, depending on how testing goes.
For consumers, the company is already offering other password-less authentication technologies, like Windows Hello, which brings enterprise-grade security to Windows 10 with dedicated hardware like fingerprint readers and infrared cameras capable of scanning your face.
