Reducing Overhead by Moving from Certificate-based to FIDO Authentication

March 13, 2023

Switching from certificate-based to FIDO authentication dramatically reduces overhead and complications for large enterprises looking to move away from using passwords.

In recent years, there has been a growing concern over the security of passwords. Password-based authentication has been the primary means of access control for a wide range of applications, from email to online banking. However, passwords are prone to a variety of security threats, including phishing attacks, brute-force attacks, and password reuse. As a result, many large enterprises are looking to move away from passwords and towards more secure authentication methods. One such method is FIDO authentication, which can dramatically reduce overhead and complications for large enterprises.

FIDO (Fast IDentity Online) is an authentication protocol that enables users to authenticate themselves to online services using public key cryptography. FIDO authentication replaces traditional password-based authentication with a more secure and user-friendly approach. The FIDO protocol is based on the concept of "passwordless" authentication, which means that users do not need to remember a password to access their accounts.

Certificate-based authentication requires a complex infrastructure to manage and maintain digital certificates, which can be time-consuming and costly. In contrast, FIDO authentication requires minimal infrastructure, and there are no certificates to manage. Instead, FIDO authentication uses public key cryptography to verify the identity of the user. This makes FIDO authentication a more efficient and cost-effective authentication method for large enterprises.

Another advantage of FIDO authentication is that it can reduce the risk of security breaches. Password-based authentication is vulnerable to a wide range of attacks, including brute-force attacks, password reuse, and phishing attacks. FIDO authentication, on the other hand, uses public key cryptography to verify the identity of the user, which is much more secure. 

Additionally, FIDO authentication provides strong authentication with a multi-factor approach, making it even more difficult for attackers to gain unauthorized access to user accounts.

FIDO authentication can also improve the user experience. Password-based authentication can be frustrating for users, particularly when they have to remember multiple passwords for different services. FIDO authentication eliminates the need for users to remember passwords, making the login process simpler and more user-friendly. This can help to improve user adoption and satisfaction, which is particularly important for large enterprises.

Moving from certificate-based to FIDO authentication can dramatically reduce overhead and complications for large enterprises. FIDO authentication is a more efficient and cost-effective authentication method that can improve security, user experience, and user adoption. As more and more organizations look to move away from passwords, FIDO authentication is emerging as a viable alternative that can meet the needs of large enterprises.

Speak to FIDO Expert