What If Passkeys Could Save Passwords Instead of Killing Them

A Pragmatic Path to Phishing-Resistant Self-Recovery

Everyone says passkeys will “kill passwords.” But what if, instead of eliminating them, passkeys could make passwords secure, usable, and cost-efficient again?

That’s the pragmatic approach now emerging in large enterprises — especially those in regulated sectors like banking, energy, or telecommunications — where passwords can’t disappear overnight.

Passwords Aren’t Dead. They’re Still a Problem You Have to Solve.

For most critical organizations, passwords remain deeply embedded in infrastructure and compliance frameworks.

Why?

• Legacy systems (Active Directory, internal portals, custom apps)

• Regulatory obligations that still mandate password policies or retention

• Complex identity ecosystems — contractors, third-party vendors, and temporary staff

• Migration costs and operational risk associated with going fully passwordless

Until every system supports FIDO2 or passkeys natively, enterprises need a secure bridge between old and new authentication models.

The Hidden Cost of Password Resets

Password resets are one of IT’s most underestimated expenses.

• Average reset cost: €15–€30 per ticket

• Hundreds of helpdesk calls per month

• Lost productivity and user frustration

Even organizations with “self-service” reset portals still fail when users lose access to their managed devices, VPN, or network connectivity.

It’s a recurring cost sink — financially, operationally, and in terms of user experience.

A New Pattern: Passkeys as a Self-Recovery Layer

Instead of replacing passwords, augment them with passkeys — particularly in password reset and recovery scenarios.

This is how it works with Secfense:

1. Enrollment — Each user registers a FIDO2 passkey from their phone or laptop (e.g., using Face ID, Touch ID, or a security key).

2. Lockout event — The user forgets their password or is locked out of a device.

3. Recovery flow — The login screen displays a QR code. The user scans it, authenticates via passkey, and gains access to reset their password.

Result: Phishing-resistant, self-service password recovery with no helpdesk call, no app rewrite, and full Active Directory compatibility.

“Passwords Meet Passkeys” — A Strategy That Works

This hybrid model is especially effective in organizations where:

• Full passwordless migration isn’t yet feasible

• Regulations still enforce password usage (e.g., under NIS2, DORA, PSD2)

• Friction or downtime is unacceptable in daily operations

Instead of fighting passwords, enterprises can transform how they’re managed and recovered, while quietly building the foundation for a passwordless future.

As the FIDO Alliance outlines in its Passkeys: The Journey to Prevent Phishing Attacks white paper, transitions toward passkeys can be progressive, using hybrid or layered models that maintain security continuity throughout the journey.
(fidoalliance.org/white-paper-passkeys-the-journey-to-prevent-phishing-attacks)

Key Benefits for IAM Teams

Strategic Outcome: A Bridge to Passwordless

The long-term value goes beyond recovery. Once users have registered a passkey for self-recovery, that same credential can be reused for:

• VPN access

• SSO portals

• Federated web apps under the same domain

Over time, this naturally builds a passkey inventory — a foundation for gradual, organization-wide passwordless adoption.

(See how Secfense enables this path to passwordless)

Final Thought

For most enterprises, passwordless adoption isn’t a single switch — it’s a staged evolution.
Passkeys don’t have to “kill” passwords; they can fix them.

By embedding passkey-based self-recovery, organizations reduce reset costs, cut phishing risk, and move toward a future where secure authentication feels invisible.

Secfense makes that possible — without code changes, agents, or disruptions.

Schedule a call with our team to see how passkey-powered self-recovery can modernize your Active Directory environment and start your journey to phishing-resistant authentication.