Passkeys Are Becoming the New Standard for Secure Sign-In

You may have recently encountered a new sign-in prompt asking you to create a passkey. Salesforce is one prominent example of a platform expanding its use of passkeys and requiring stronger, phishing-resistant authentication for certain users.

While a new login prompt is rarely anyone’s favorite surprise, this change represents something positive: a safer and often simpler way to protect your accounts.

It is also much bigger than Salesforce.

Across the technology industry, organizations are moving away from passwords and traditional verification codes. Passkeys are quickly becoming a new standard for secure sign-in, and understanding them now will make the transition much easier.

At UPIC, we believe technology should help people work confidently, not leave them wondering what button to press next. So, let’s break down what passkeys are, why they matter, and what you can expect.

What Is a Passkey?

A passkey is a digital credential that allows you to sign in using a trusted device.

Depending on your device and your organization’s policies, you may approve a passkey login using:

• Face ID or facial recognition
• Touch ID or a fingerprint
• Windows Hello
• A device PIN
• An approved password manager
• A physical USB or NFC security key

In everyday terms, a passkey lets your device confirm that you are really you.

Unlike a traditional password, a passkey is not a secret phrase that you need to remember, reuse, reset, or type into a website. Instead, it uses secure cryptography to verify your identity.

The service you are accessing stores a public key, while the corresponding private key remains protected on your device, in an approved password manager, or on a physical security key. The private key is not sent during sign-in.

When biometrics are used, your fingerprint or facial information stays on your device. It simply unlocks the passkey locally. Your biometric information is not shared with the website or application.

That may sound highly technical, but the user experience is usually quite simple: look at your device, touch a sensor, enter your device PIN, and you are in.

Why Are Organizations Moving Away from Passwords?

Passwords have been the standard for decades, but they are also one of the most common sources of security risk.

People naturally want passwords that are easy to remember. Unfortunately, that can lead to reused passwords, predictable passwords, passwords written on sticky notes, or passwords stored in insecure locations.

Passwords can also be exposed through:

• Data breaches
• Phishing emails
• Fake login pages
• Malware
• Social engineering
• Password reuse across multiple services

Multi-factor authentication, or MFA, improved account protection by requiring another verification step. However, not all MFA methods offer the same level of security.

For example, temporary codes sent by text message or generated by an authenticator application can still be entered into a fraudulent website. An attacker may capture both the password and the code, then use them immediately to access the real account.

Passkeys are designed to prevent that type of attack.

A passkey is connected to the legitimate website or application for which it was created. A passkey registered for one service cannot simply be entered into a fake website pretending to be that service. This makes passkeys resistant to many of the phishing techniques attackers commonly use.

In other words, passkeys do not just add another step to the login process. They change the process in a way that makes stolen credentials far less useful.

Why Salesforce Is a Useful Example

Salesforce has required multi-factor authentication for internal users for several years. More recently, it has increased technical enforcement and strengthened authentication requirements for users with powerful administrative or development permissions.

Many Salesforce users will now be encouraged to create a passkey, while certain privileged users may be required to use phishing-resistant authentication, such as a built-in passkey or physical security key.

The exact experience may vary depending on a user’s permissions, device, login configuration, and the authentication options enabled by their organization.

Salesforce is a useful example because it shows where the broader technology industry is heading. Stronger authentication is moving beyond a recommended best practice and becoming part of the standard login experience.

Other providers are making similar changes, and more will follow.

So, while Salesforce may be the reason passkeys are appearing on your radar today, it will probably not be the last place you encounter them.

Are Passkeys More Difficult to Use?

Passkeys may feel unfamiliar during the initial setup, but once enrolled, they are often easier to use than passwords and verification codes.

A traditional sign-in may require you to:

1. Enter a username.
2. Enter a password.
3. Retrieve your phone.
4. Open an authenticator application.
5. Locate the correct account.
6. Enter a temporary code before it expires.

With a passkey, you may simply approve the sign-in with your fingerprint, face, device PIN, or security key.

That means less typing, fewer passwords to remember, and fewer frantic moments trying to enter a six-digit code before it disappears.

Passkeys can also be stored in compatible password managers or cloud credential services and synchronized across approved devices. The exact experience will depend on your organization’s security policies and the devices you use.

As with any technology change, there may be a brief adjustment period. That is normal. New does not always mean difficult, and in this case, the long-term experience may be noticeably easier.

What Happens When You Replace a Device?

Device replacement and account recovery are important parts of passkey adoption.

Before replacing, resetting, returning, or disposing of a work device, confirm whether it contains a passkey used for business systems. Follow your organization’s instructions for registering a new device or removing the old credential.

Organizations may also provide backup authentication methods, recovery procedures, or physical security keys. These options help prevent users from being locked out when a device is lost, damaged, replaced, or unavailable.

Do not register a passkey on a personal device unless your organization permits it. It may be convenient in the moment, but business credentials should always be managed according to your organization’s security policies.

A little preparation here can prevent a lot of frustration later.

What Partners Should Do

When a trusted business system asks you to create a passkey, do not automatically dismiss the prompt as an unnecessary change.

First, confirm that you are using the legitimate website or application. Then follow the enrollment guidance provided by your organization.

Partners should also:

• Use company-managed devices when required.
• Follow organizational policies for password managers and cloud synchronization.
• Keep physical security keys in a safe location.
• Never share device PINs, security keys, or recovery information.
• Maintain an approved backup method when one is available.
• Contact the appropriate support team before replacing or resetting a registered device.
• Report unexpected login prompts, suspicious emails, and fraudulent websites.

Passkeys greatly reduce the effectiveness of phishing, but they do not eliminate every cyber threat. Attackers may still use fake support calls, malicious applications, fraudulent approval requests, or account-recovery scams.

As always, pause when something feels unusual. A few extra seconds of caution can make a meaningful difference.

Adopt the Change or Risk Falling Behind

Passkeys are not simply another short-lived technology trend. They address one of the most persistent weaknesses in cybersecurity: the password.

Organizations that begin adopting passkeys now can reduce their exposure to stolen credentials, strengthen protection for privileged accounts, and simplify the sign-in experience for users.

Organizations that delay may eventually face rushed vendor mandates, increased account-recovery costs, stricter cyber-insurance expectations, or preventable security incidents.

The question is becoming less about whether passkeys will replace many password-based sign-ins and more about how prepared organizations and users will be for the transition.

Salesforce is one recent and highly visible example, but the message extends far beyond a single platform.

At UPIC, our goal is to help our Partners navigate changes like this with clarity and confidence. Technology will continue to evolve, and security requirements will evolve with it. By understanding the purpose behind these changes and adopting them thoughtfully, we can protect our organizations, our information, and the people we serve.

Passkeys are becoming part of the new security baseline. They may be new today, but before long, they may feel as natural as unlocking your phone.

And that is the real promise of passkeys: stronger security without making everyday work harder.