Passwordless Hits the Tipping Point in Enterprise Security

Our latest CISO Perspectives for 2026 survey report—conducted in partnership with Wakefield Research—reveals that 92% of CISOs have already implemented, are in the process of implementing, or are planning to implement passwordless authentication. That’s a dramatic rise from just 70% last year. If there was any doubt, it’s now clear: passwordless has reached its tipping point. 

 

Security leaders aren’t just chasing trends—they’re making deliberate, strategic shifts away from passwords and legacy multi-factor authentication (MFA) because the risk-reward calculus has changed. Going passwordless solves problems that old tools only masked. It’s not just more secure—it’s better for users, easier to scale, and more aligned with modern zero trust strategies. 

 

What’s driving passwordless adoption? 

 

The rise in adoption isn’t just a statistical blip—it reflects a fundamental change in how security teams are thinking about identity, access, and trust. 

 

1. MFA isn’t aging well 

While MFA once seemed like a silver bullet, confidence is fading fast. According to our research: 

• 96% of CISOs say MFA can’t keep up with today’s threats 

• 98% worry it no longer sufficiently protects employees 

 

MFA fatigue is real. Phishing attacks are on the rise, and adversaries are increasingly targeting MFA methods like push notifications and one-time passcodes to bypass identity defenses. Other attacks, like SIM swapping, OTP relay services, and adversary-in-the-middle (AiTM) attacks are exposing MFA’s limitations. 

 

In short: MFA is no longer enough—and CISOs know it. 

 

2. Passwordless boosts both security and productivity 

 

Unlike MFA, passwordless authentication isn’t a tradeoff between security and usability—it strengthens both. When implemented with certificate-based authentication, it delivers: 

• Stronger identity assurance: Certificates are tied to trusted devices and are phishing-resistant 

• Reduced attack surface: No shared secrets, no passwords to steal or phish 

• Fewer support tickets: Eliminating password resets means freeing up your help desk 

• Improved employee experience: Seamless login flows reduce frustration and drive adoption 

 

CISOs in our survey cited reduced phishing and credential reuse (52%), increased productivity (41%), and better user experience (39%) as top reasons for adopting passwordless authentication. 

 

This isn’t just about security hygiene—it’s about modernizing access at scale. 

 

Passwordless is redefining enterprise security 

 

We’re already seeing major enterprises make the leap. As enterprises accelerate their zero trust strategies, passwordless authentication becomes more than a nice-to-have—it’s the new baseline. In fact, going passwordless enables several core zero trust principles: 

• Identity and device trust: Authenticate both before granting access 

• Phishing resistance by design: No shared secrets to steal 

• Scalable enforcement: Works across hybrid environments, contractors, BYOD, and IoT 

It enables organizations to move faster while increasing assurance—something legacy MFA and password-based systems simply can’t offer. 

 

 

Bottom line 

Passwords are disappearing—faster than most predicted. With 92% of CISOs having implemented or plan to implement passwordless authentication by 2027, this security measure has clearly crossed the adoption curve from early adopter to enterprise standard. 

Security leaders are no longer asking if they should go passwordless. They’re asking how fast they can get there.