Key Takeaways
Passkeys eliminate shared secrets and dramatically reduce phishing risk. By replacing passwords with asymmetric cryptography bound to devices and origins, FIDO2 passkeys remove the primary attack vector behind the majority of breaches.
Not all passkeys are created equal for the enterprise. Consumer-grade, synced passkeys prioritize convenience, while enterprise-grade implementations add device binding, attestation, lifecycle management, and recovery controls.
Enrollment is the real battleground. Without identity verification at passkey issuance, attackers can register their own credentials and gain persistent access.
Verified identity plus FIDO2 delivers the highest assurance. Binding passkeys to a proven human identity closes impersonation gaps and supports Zero Trust at scale.
Understanding FIDO2 Passkeys: How They Work Across Devices
A FIDO2 passkey is a passwordless credential that uses public-key cryptography to authenticate users without shared secrets. Instead of remembering passwords, users rely on cryptographic key pairs that do the heavy lifting behind the scenes.
During registration, your device creates a cryptographic key pair. The private key remains locked on your device, protected by hardware security features such as a Trusted Platform Module or Secure Enclave. The public key goes to the service you're authenticating with.
When you sign in, your device proves it has the private key by signing a challenge from the service, without ever revealing any information that an attacker could reuse.
Cross-Device Functionality
Cross-device functionality comes in two forms:
Platform passkeys: Synchronized through trusted cloud ecosystems like Apple, Google, or Microsoft, allowing the same credential to work seamlessly across your personal devices.
Cross-device authentication: Lets your phone authenticate a nearby laptop or kiosk using a QR code and proximity checks, enabling secure login even on devices that don't hold the key locally.
For enterprises, this flexibility is essential. Workers authenticate from desktops, mobile devices, shared stations, and remote endpoints daily. FIDO2 and WebAuth provide a standards-based foundation that enables passkeys to work consistently across operating systems, browsers, and hardware.
Passkeys: A secure, phishing-resistant authentication method
Passkeys eliminate the fundamental vulnerabilities that have plagued passwords for decades. They're phishing-resistant, remove shared secrets entirely, and require verified user presence at every login.
The phishing problem is solved at the cryptographic level. Each authentication request is bound to the exact website or application that created the credential. A fake login page simply can't steal or replay it.
There's also no password database to breach. Servers store only public keys, which are useless to attackers on their own. If an application is compromised, there's nothing to crack, reuse, or sell on underground markets. That single architectural shift eliminates an entire class of attacks that have dominated breach headlines for years.
Finally, passkeys enforce local user verification. Before a private key can be used, the user must unlock it with biometrics or a secure local gesture. This ensures the person attempting to log in is physically present, not a remote attacker armed with stolen credentials. Together, these properties make passkeys the strongest mainstream authentication method available today.
Top FIDO2 Passkey Solutions in 2026
Selecting the right FIDO2 passkey solution depends on your organization's specific needs, from frontline workforce authentication to enterprise-wide identity management. Here are three leading solutions that address different enterprise requirements.
Yubico YubiKey
YubiKey is a physical hardware security key that provides portable, device-bound FIDO2 authentication across multiple platforms, browsers, and operating systems.
How it works: The device stores up to 100 discoverable FIDO2 credentials in its secure element. Users register by inserting the key into a USB port or tapping via NFC, then create a FIDO2 PIN for local verification.
During authentication, the service sends a cryptographic challenge that YubiKey signs using its secure element. Users verify their presence with a touch and optionally enter their PIN for high-security scenarios.
Best for:
Remote workers and distributed teams
IT administrators and privileged users
Employees who switch between managed and unmanaged devices
Organizations requiring NIST AAL3 compliance
Phased modernization with legacy smart card systems
Key differentiator: Hardware-isolated cryptographic operations ensure credentials cannot be remotely compromised.
Okta FIDO2 (WebAuthn)
Okta provides enterprise-grade FIDO2 authentication as part of its identity and access management platform, enabling organizations to orchestrate passkey deployment across their entire application ecosystem.
How it works: Okta acts as the FIDO2 relying party server, managing passkey registration and authentication for all connected applications. Users can enroll platform authenticators like Windows Hello or Touch ID, synced passkeys, or hardware security keys.
The platform supports customizable user verification requirements, enterprise attestation for device trust, and the ability to block synced passkeys in favor of device-bound credentials for high-security scenarios.
Best for:
Enterprises with existing Okta infrastructure
Organizations deploying passkeys across thousands of applications
Teams integrating passkeys into Zero Trust architectures
Companies requiring centralized policy management
Businesses needing pre-built SSO connectors
1Kosmos 1Key
1Kosmos 1Key is a FIDO2 and CTAP2-certified biometric authenticator designed for manufacturing, retail, and frontline workforce environments where shared workstations and high-security requirements intersect.
How it works: 1Key is a FIDO2-compliant hardware authenticator that integrates biometric verification into the authentication flow. During enrollment, users complete identity verification before registering their fingerprints on the device. The fingerprint is hashed directly on the hardware and encrypted before transmission, ensuring biometric data never leaves the physical device in raw form.
During authentication, the system retrieves encrypted fingerprint data, the 1Key device captures a live fingerprint, performs the match locally on the hardware, and generates FIDO2-compliant cryptographic proof of authentication using a private key.
Best for:
Frontline workers who share devices across shifts
Manufacturing plants, retail stores, and distribution centers
Environments where mobile phones are restricted or impractical
Organizations requiring verified identity binding at enrollment
Healthcare facilities with shared terminal access
Key differentiator: FIDO2-certified biometric authentication purpose-built for shared workstations, eliminating the need for workers to carry individual hardware tokens while maintaining device-bound security.
Choosing the right solution: 1Kosmos 1Key delivers FIDO2 security for shared workforce environments with verified identity and stateless biometric readers. Yubico YubiKey provides maximum portability and hardware-isolated security for users who need authentication across multiple locations. Okta offers enterprise orchestration and policy management for organizations deploying passkeys at scale across diverse application portfolios.
Combining passkeys with identity verification
Combining passkeys with identity verification (IDV) closes one of the most dangerous gaps in passwordless authentication.
FIDO2 proves possession of a key, not the real-world identity of the person holding it. That distinction matters during enrollment. If an attacker intercepts an onboarding link or compromises an email account, they can register their own passkey and gain durable access that looks legitimate to the system.
Identity verification changes that equation. By requiring a government-issued ID and biometric liveness check before issuing a passkey, organizations ensure the credential is bound to a real, verified human being.
This approach is especially valuable in regulated industries, remote hiring, and high-risk access scenarios where impersonation during onboarding can have lasting consequences that ripple through the organization.
Go passwordless with 1Kosmos
1Kosmos Workforce addresses this challenge with modern, passwordless multi-factor authentication that strikes a balance between speed, ease of use, and strong security.
By eliminating legacy credentials in favor of advanced biometrics, adaptive authentication, and seamless enterprise integration, it provides a login experience employees appreciate and security teams rely on. Verified identities, backed by industry-leading certifications and a resilient, always-on infrastructure, ensure workforce protection without sacrificing productivity.
Ready to eliminate passwords for good? Discover the 1Kosmos Workforce solution and learn how to transform authentication for your organization today.
