Page 10 - Fall 2025 - Single Pages

The Death of Passwords Is Closer Than You Think -

Is Your Business Ready for What’s Next?

BY JARED MAXWELL

phased out?
For years, we’ve known passwords were a problem. Now,
they’re becoming obsolete—and fast. As major tech companies shi� toward • Can your iden�ty provider (such as
passkey authen�ca�on, businesses that don’t plan for this transi�on may Microso� Entra ID) support
find themselves more vulnerable to cybera�acks and inefficiencies. passwordless login?

The Risk is Real Step 3: Align with Business
Cybercriminals are ramping up a�acks on outdated, password-protected Requirements
systems. In fact, there were over 7,000 password a�acks per second last • Does going passwordless sa�sfy
year—twice as many as the year before. That’s not a coincidence; it’s a clear compliance frameworks (HIPAA, PCI
sign that as more secure authen�ca�on becomes standard, bad actors are DSS, GLBA, etc.)?
zeroing in on those who haven’t made the switch.
• Are you able to audit, log, and
respond to incidents without gaps? Jared Maxwell is Chief
According to the Verizon 2025 Data Breach Inves�ga�ons Report, 60% of Information Officer at
breaches involve stolen creden�als or phishing. And once a hacker has a • What backup plan will be in place if Kalmer Solutions, an
password, the rest is o�en easy. someone loses a device or passkey?
ACB Associate
Member
The Rise of Passkeys Step 4: Plan for the People
Passkeys—a modern, secure alterna�ve to passwords—are proving to be a • How will execu�ves, frontline staff, and remote workers log in
game changer. They’re: differently?
• Will devices and browsers employees already use be compa�ble?
• 98% successful on first sign-in a�empts (compared to just 32% for • How will IT guide recovery if a passkey is lost or compromised?
passwords)
Finally, pull these insights together into a roadmap that rolls out in phases.
• Eight �mes faster than tradi�onal logins using passwords and mul�- Start with your riskiest or most costly areas, then expand. The objec�ve isn’t
factor authen�ca�on just to get rid of passwords—it’s to:
• Phishing-resistant and far less vulnerable to brute force a�acks • Strengthen security against today’s most common a�ack method
No wonder global giants like Apple, Google, Microso�, PayPal, and Amazon • Reduce wasted �me and costs �ed to password resets
have already commi�ed to using passkeys. They’ve even joined the FIDO
Alliance’s Passkey Pledge, a public commitment to drive passwordless • Give employees a simpler, faster login experience
adop�on across industries. The organiza�ons that start planning now won’t just keep pace with Apple,
Google, and Microso�—they’ll be posi�oned to future-proof iden�ty and
The Hidden Cost of Passwords access management for years to come.
S�ll not convinced? Consider this: it’s es�mated that every �me an Final Thought
employee resets a password, it could cost your business around $70. For a
large organiza�on, that adds up to over $1 million per year in wasted �me Passkeys aren’t just a tech trend—they’re the future of secure access. Every
and support costs. Beyond security risks, passwords are a costly burden on major player in the digital space is moving in this direc�on. The longer your
produc�vity. organiza�on waits, the more exposed and inefficient your systems may
become.
What Is Passwordless Authen�ca�on?
Instead of using something you know (a password), passkeys use something At Kalmer Solu�ons, we understand that authen�ca�on is evolving—and
you have (like your phone or a device) or something you are (biometrics like fast. That’s why we help businesses transi�on to passkey-based security with
your face or fingerprint). The result is a smoother, safer login experience confidence. From cloud migra�on and app moderniza�on to user educa�on
that’s far harder for a�ackers to exploit. and policy development, our team delivers tailored strategies that align with
your goals.
How to Get Started
Shi�ing away from passwords doesn’t happen overnight, but you can start With the right strategy and support, you can build a more secure,
small by building a clear picture of where your organiza�on stands today. produc�ve, and future-ready environment for your team. We provide
Think of it less as a technical project and more as a strategic roadmap that layered security, real-�me monitoring, and expert guidance to help you stay
touches security, compliance, and the employee experience. ahead of threats and inefficiencies.

Step 1: Take Inventory Let’s talk about how we can help your organiza�on embrace a passwordless
• Where are passwords s�ll used in your business? future. Reach out to us today.
• Which apps or systems feel clunky, high-risk, or expensive to support?
• Where do employees struggle most (phishing emails, constant resets,
forgo�en logins)?

Step 2: Check for Modern Readiness
Are your apps and systems able to connect with newer standards like SAML
or OpenID Connect?
• Do you have older systems or VPNs that may need to be upgraded or

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