Thales introduces Passwordless 360 for enterprise security

Thales, the global technology and security provider, has introduced a new concept for enterprise passwordless authentication, named Passwordless 360. This new innovation aims to extend the usage of passwordless authentication across various applications by employing a single system, thereby managing costs effectively and enhancing adoption rates among employees, customers, and suppliers.

The advent of Passwordless 360 comes as a response to the growing number of passwords individuals are required to manage - reportedly as many as 100 on average. The complexity and quantity of these passwords often lead users to employ easily memorable ones or reuse passwords across multiple services, thereby heightening their vulnerability to security risks such as theft and phishing.

Passwordless 360 aims to alleviate these frustrations by offering a holistic set of tools that enable organisations to implement passwordless authentication throughout numerous applications. These range from secure access to personal and work devices to legacy and modern web resources. The solution promotes cost-effectiveness by allowing firms to utilise a unified system, which also increases the likelihood of acceptance and usage among the organisation's ecosystem.

This new solution also seeks to mitigate the security risks associated with traditional password usage. By eliminating the need for conventional passwords, Passwordless 360 can provide a higher level of security through advanced technologies like FIDO passkeys, while ensuring that prior investments in passwordless technologies are not rendered obsolete.

Thales' Passwordless 360 is designed to meet various organisational risk management requirements, complying with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) guidelines, irrespective of where the passkeys are stored. This ensures a level of flexibility and adaptability important to many security-conscious organisations.

Passwordless 360 is integrated with the Thales OneWelcome Identity Platform, which serves as the cornerstone for the implementation of passwordless policies. It includes essential features such as:

• Support for passkeys within the OneWelcome Identity Platform
• Passwordless Windows Logon, which replaces traditional passwords, providing users with a more convenient and secure identification method
• SafeNet FIDO Key Manager, developed to help users manage their various FIDO keys, thus reducing administrative overhead for organisations
• FIDO Authenticator Lifecycle Management, created in partnership with identity management software company Versasec, to support organisations in managing FIDO tokens and adopting the modern FIDO standard at scale

This announcement coincides with Thales being recognised as an Overall Leader in KuppingerCole's 2024 Leadership Compass on Passwordless Authentication for Consumers. The platform has been lauded for its comprehensive set of identity applications that encompass a wide array of authentication methods tailored to meet diverse organisational needs.

Alejandro Leal, a Research Analyst at KuppingerCole, commented on Thales' achievement, stating, "Thales offers a comprehensive solution that enables organisations to improve their identity management practices, adapt to evolving technologies, and effectively secure their systems and data. Organisations in highly regulated industries and security-conscious entities in both the public and private sectors that require robust authentication options should consider the OneWelcome Identity Platform."