IT Departments Are Fed Up With Passwords: Survey

The cybersecurity specialists Yubico and Ping Identity have released new survey data that quantifies IT’s growing frustrations with password-based security. Both Yubico and Ping offer some form of passwordless authentication, with Yubico being best known for its physical security keys and Ping pushing various biometric technologies through its portfolio of enterprise access management solutions.

The survey shows that IT decision makers are increasingly hoping to ditch passwords in favor of those more secure options. The respondents believe that passwordless technology is at once more convenient and more secure than legacy alternatives, and that passwordless tech will reduce the amount of time spent dealing with password-related IT complaints.

With regards to security, half of the respondents believe that passwords do not provide enough security for those operating in the modern work environment. The overwhelming majority (94 percent) were similarly worried about weak user-generated passwords, while 91 percent were afraid that passwords (regardless of strength) would end up getting stolen.

On the productivity front, the IT professionals reported that a full third of their help desk requests stem from password-related issues, and that the total number of incidents has gone up 30 percent in the past year alone. With that in mind, two-thirds of the respondents are worried that passwords are increasing the costs of the help desk for their organization.

Unfortunately, IT decision makers also believe that making the switch to passwordless authentication will be easier said than done. A whopping 97 percent are expecting to face resistance from their staff, which is why 91 percent think decision makers will need to take the lead and push for change. Ninety-three percent indicated that their organization will eventually embrace passwordless authentication if it has not already done so, with biometrics being the preferred form of password-free security.

“Passwords are not only frustrating but easily exploited via remote bad actors,” said Ping Identity Founder and CEO Andre Durand. “It’s reassuring to see IT leaders across the globe aligned on a future where passwords are replaced by simple, easy, and more secure authentication.”

The vast majority of respondents believe that passwordless authentication will deliver a better user experience for employees and customers alike. Yubico has tracked the limitations of passwords in the past, with reports that show that many employees do not follow password best practices, and that executives are often just as bad as their staff in that regard.

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June 15, 2022 – by Eric Weiss