Microsoft: 2021 the end of passwords

Microsoft has long supported technology that does not require passwords, saying it wants to remove traditional and insecure passwords.

To this end, it has invested in various solutions in recent years, such as Windows HelloThe Microsoft Authenticator, security keys FIDO2 and a palm authentication system.

Recently, the company he said all the steps it has taken to "exterminate" passwords in 2020 and said it intends to leave them in history for all its customers from 2021.

Microsoft notes that almost 80% of all cyber attacks target passwords and that one in 250 corporate accounts is compromised each month. So the company makes an effort to adopt solutions that do not need passwords.

In November 2019, 100 million people used Microsoft passwordless sign-in. That number has risen to 150 million by May 2020, indicating how millions of people are ready to leave their passwords.

Throughout 2020, Microsoft participated in various conferences and shared its vision for a future without passwords and a Zero Trust environment.

It also unveiled a preview of Azure Active Directory that supports FIDO2 security keys in hybrid environments, as well as a new driver without a password through the Microsoft 365 Admin Center.

The company has partnered with many security partners at the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA) to promote password-free solutions.

The company from Redmond also provided the following very interesting statistics for 2020

• The use of password-free solutions in Azure Active Directory has increased by more than 50 percent for Windows Hello for Business, with Microsoft Authenticator and FIDO2 security keys.
• There are more than 150 million passwordless users in Azure Active Directory and Microsoft consumer accounts.
• The number of consumers using Windows Hello for login to Windows 10 devices instead of a password increased to 84,7% from a 69,4% in 2019.

So 2021 seems to be the year in which Microsoft intends to release passwords. It is currently developing new APIs and UX for managing FIDO2 security keys and also aims to launch a "convergence portal" where its customers can manage their credentials without passwords.

The company claims that switching to solutions that do not require passwords will make our lives online easier.