However, passkeys do not provide complete protection against cyberattacks. Insecure account recovery procedures, compromised devices or stolen active sessions can still pose risks.

Secure sign-in is therefore only one component of a comprehensive IT security strategy.

Passkeys or password managers: What do businesses really need?

As passwordless sign-in methods become more widespread, the impression sometimes arises that traditional password managers will become obsolete in the long run.

For businesses, however, this view is too simplistic.

Many business applications do not yet support passkeys. Older software solutions, internal systems and certain technical accounts in particular still rely on traditional usernames and passwords.

In addition, businesses often need to protect other confidential information, such as recovery codes, credentials for technical accounts or other sensitive access data.

This is exactly where a professional business password manager remains important.

Centralized password management makes it possible to store existing credentials securely, provide them in a structured way and organize their use based on clear permissions.

As a result, employees no longer have to keep passwords in personal documents, spreadsheets or unprotected notes. At the same time, businesses can define which individuals or teams are given access to specific business accounts.

Passkeys and password managers therefore serve different but complementary purposes: while passkeys improve the sign-in process, a business password manager supports the secure management of the passwords and other supported access data that are still needed.

The underestimated challenge: Keeping control of business access

For businesses, it is not only about how securely employees sign in. It is just as important who is allowed to access which systems, and how these permissions can be managed reliably.

A typical example is an employee leaving the company.

During their employment, that person may use passkeys for various cloud services, traditional passwords for internal applications and additional access data for working with external partners.

When they leave, all business access rights must be reviewed and revoked where necessary.

With passkeys, this is done, for example, by deactivating the user account or revoking the respective passkey registration with the service. With traditional passwords, permissions have to be removed and any shared credentials changed if necessary.

These tasks differ technically, but they share the same goal: Business access must remain under the company's control, even when employees change roles or leave the company.

Professional password management with clear roles and permissions supports these processes for the credentials it manages. Identity management, device management and suitable passkey policies are also required.

Where passkeys are stored makes a difference

Not all passkeys are managed in the same way. Broadly speaking, there are two variants.

Device-bound passkeys remain on a specific device or hardware security key. They are particularly suitable for use cases with strict requirements for controlling the authenticators in use.

Synced passkeys, on the other hand, can be made available across multiple devices in encrypted form. This makes switching between a smartphone and a laptop more convenient, for example.

In a private context, this flexibility is often welcome. For businesses, however, it raises additional organizational questions.

What happens if a business passkey is stored in a personal user account? Which devices may be used to sign in? And how can you make sure that no unwanted access rights remain after an employee leaves?

Questions like these show that technical security and organizational control go hand in hand.

Businesses should therefore define early on which devices and passkey providers are approved, and how business passkeys are registered, recovered and revoked.

Secure password management as the foundation of modern access strategies

A future-proof security strategy does not have to choose between passkeys and passwords. Instead, it should take both methods into account, in line with the technical capabilities of the applications in use.

In practice, a structured approach is recommended:

• Take stock of existing access: Businesses should know which applications support passkeys and where traditional passwords are still needed.
• Protect passwords centrally: A professional password manager reduces uncontrolled storage locations and supports the regulated provision of business credentials.
• Define permissions clearly: Access to passwords and applications should be based on actual tasks and responsibilities.
• Introduce passkeys in a controlled way: Approved devices, storage locations and recovery procedures should be set out in binding rules.
• Include offboarding processes: When roles change and during offboarding, traditional access credentials as well as passkey registrations and active sessions must be reviewed.

Such an approach helps to reduce existing security gaps and to integrate new sign-in methods into the corporate environment step by step.

Not all systems need to be switched over at the same time. What matters is that existing and new authentication methods are covered by a coordinated security strategy.

Why professional password management remains important

Even though passkeys are becoming increasingly widespread, the traditional password will continue to play a role in many corporate environments for quite some time.

Especially where many employees work with different systems, clear permissions, protected storage and traceable management processes are indispensable.

Solutions such as PassSecurium help businesses professionalize their password management. Business passwords and access credentials can be managed centrally and securely, and provided in a controlled way through roles, groups and permissions.

This reduces dependence on insecure storage locations and individually maintained password collections.

The introduction of passkeys complements this security strategy, but does not automatically replace the management of existing access credentials. Comprehensive protection requires password management, authentication, identity management and organizational processes to work together effectively.

Conclusion: The future is not just passwordless, but better organized

Passkeys are a significant step forward for digital security. They make signing in easier and offer effective protection against many conventional phishing attacks.

For businesses, however, modern authentication means more than replacing individual passwords.

What remains crucial is that business access is protected, permissions are clearly defined and access rights are reliably adjusted whenever changes occur.

Passkeys improve the sign-in process. Professional password managers secure the management of credentials that are still needed. Together with identity and device management, they are key components of a comprehensive security strategy.

Investing in structured password management today not only improves the protection of existing access credentials, but also creates a solid organizational foundation for adopting new authentication methods.

Manage business passwords securely and centrally

With PassSecurium, we help businesses simplify their password management, organize access permissions clearly and provide sensitive credentials securely.