Goodbye, Passwords? What Small Businesses Should Know About Passkeys

Passkeys Explained: The Future of Logging In (Without Passwords)

If you’re tired of juggling dozens of passwords—or worse, reusing the same one everywhere—you’re not alone. Passwords are one of the biggest pain points in everyday digital life. They’re easy to forget, often insecure, and regularly targeted by cybercriminals. So when tech giants like Google, Apple, and Microsoft started pushing something called passkeys, people took notice.

But what exactly are passkeys? And are they really the beginning of the end for passwords?

Let’s break it down.

What Are Passkeys?

At a basic level, passkeys are a modern replacement for passwords. Instead of typing in a string of characters, passkeys let you log in using something you have (like your device) and something you are (like your fingerprint or face scan). It’s built on public/private key cryptography—meaning the login process happens securely behind the scenes, without ever transmitting your private login credentials.

Here’s how it works:

• When you create a passkey for a website or app, your device generates a unique key pair: one public (stored on the service’s server) and one private (stored on your device).
• When you log in, the server sends a challenge that your device answers using the private key—authenticated with your face, fingerprint, or device PIN.
• Your private key never leaves your device, and there’s nothing for a hacker to steal from a password database.

Google, Apple, and Microsoft have already added support for passkeys across many of their products and services. For example, you can now log into your Google account using a passkey instead of a password. And if you use Apple devices, passkeys are automatically synced across iCloud for a seamless experience.

Pros of Passkeys

1. You don’t have to remember anything.
   That alone is a game-changer. No more forgotten passwords, no more reset links, no more sticky notes on your monitor.
2. They’re phishing-resistant.
   Traditional passwords can be stolen through fake login pages or email scams. But passkeys only work with the legitimate website or app they were created for—so even if a scammer tricks you into clicking a bad link, your device won’t authenticate.
3. It’s a smoother user experience.
   Instead of typing complex strings, you just authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your device’s PIN. It’s fast, seamless, and secure.
4. No more password reuse.
   With passkeys, every login is unique. That means you’re not using the same credentials across multiple services—a common (and risky) habit in small businesses.

Cons or Limitations

Passkeys are promising, but they’re not a magic fix—yet.

1. Not supported everywhere.
   Many major services have rolled out passkey support, but not all websites or apps are ready. You’ll likely be managing both passwords and passkeys for a while.
2. They require newer devices and software.
   If your business is still using older operating systems or browsers, passkeys may not work—or the experience may be clunky. You’ll need up-to-date tech to take full advantage.
3. Business adoption is still catching up.
   Many platforms still rely on traditional logins. Passkeys are gaining ground, but they won’t replace passwords in every business setting—at least not yet.