Replacing social login with passkeys: A CIAM perspective

Replacing social login with passkeys in CIAM Why companies choose passkeys for stronger security and privacycy

Introduction: From Social Logins to Passkeys

For years, social login (Google, Facebook, LinkedIn) made it easy for users to sign up and log in. But this convenience comes with trade-offs: privacy risks, dependence on third-party providers, and security weaknesses.

Today, passkeys are emerging as the default alternative in Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM). They provide stronger security, better privacy, and give companies full control over the user journey.

What Are Passkeys? (Quick Definition)

Passkeys are a form of passwordless authentication based on the WebAuthn standard.

  • They use a public/private cryptographic key pair.
  • The public key is stored by the company (Identity Provider).
  • The private key is kept securely on the user’s device.
  • Authentication happens through cryptographic signing, often combined with biometrics like Face ID or fingerprint.

👉 This makes passkeys phishing-resistant, fast, and user-friendly.

Secfense Report Implementing Passwordless Logins Using Passkeys in Your Organization

Why Social Login Is Losing Ground

1. Privacy Risks

  • Social logins share user data with providers like Google and Facebook.
  • Users often don’t realize how much personal information is exposed.
  • This creates potential compliance issues with privacy laws (GDPR, CCPA, and others).

2. Lack of Business Control

  • Companies depend on external APIs and policies.
  • Changes in provider requirements (e.g., verification rules) can disrupt user access.
  • The login flow is branded by the provider, not the business.

3. Security Concerns

  • If a social account is hacked, all linked services are vulnerable.
  • Password reuse and phishing remain risks.
  • Businesses can’t fully manage or control the threat surface.

Why Companies Should Switch to Passkeys

1. Control and Customization

  • Full ownership of authentication flows, branding, and data.
  • Independence from third-party policies or disruptions.
  • Greater flexibility in shaping the CIAM experience.

2. Enhanced Privacy

  • Authentication events stay within the company’s environment.
  • No external profiling or unnecessary data sharing.
  • Easier compliance with global privacy regulations.

3. Stronger Security

  • Passkeys are inherently phishing-resistant.
  • Private keys never leave the user’s device.
  • Multi-factor authentication is built into the passkey flow (device + biometric).

4. Better User Experience

  • No passwords to remember or reset.
  • Fast login with biometrics across iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS.
  • Less friction during onboarding and authentication, leading to higher user retention.

How to Implement Passkeys in CIAM

  • Many CIAM platforms (Okta, Auth0, Secfense, ForgeRock) already support passkeys.
  • Start with hybrid login: offer passwords, social logins, and passkeys together.
  • Gradually phase out third-party logins as users adopt passkeys.
  • Provide onboarding education — tooltips, FAQs, and short tutorials — to ease user transition.

✅ Example: Companies introducing passkeys alongside existing options have been able to reduce dependency on social logins over time without disrupting the user experience.

Achieving Passwordless Logins A Secfense Report on Using Passkeys

FAQ: Passkeys vs. Social Login

Q: Are passkeys safer than social login?
Yes. Passkeys are phishing-resistant and don’t rely on third-party accounts.

Q: Do passkeys replace MFA?
Yes. Passkeys combine device-based security with biometrics, creating a strong form of multi-factor authentication by default.

Q: Can we still offer social login alongside passkeys?
Yes. Many companies keep both during transition, then retire social logins as adoption grows.

Conclusion: Future-Proofing CIAM with Passkeys

Replacing social login with passkeys gives organizations:

  • Control over authentication flows and data
  • Privacy by eliminating third-party exposure
  • Security through phishing-resistant MFA
  • Seamless UX across devices and platforms

As users demand stronger privacy and regulators raise security expectations, passkeys are becoming the new standard for CIAM. Companies that adopt them early will gain trust, reduce risk, and future-proof their identity strategy.

Conclusion: Future-Proofing CIAM with Passkeys

Replacing social login with passkeys gives organizations:

  • Control over authentication flows and data
  • Privacy by eliminating third-party exposure
  • Security through phishing-resistant MFA
  • Seamless UX across devices and platforms

As users demand stronger privacy and regulators raise security expectations, passkeys are becoming the new standard for CIAM. Companies that adopt them early will gain trust, reduce risk, and future-proof their identity strategy.

👉 At Secfense, we help enterprises adopt passkeys without rewriting applications or disrupting existing systems. Our no-code approach makes it possible to deploy phishing-resistant MFA across all apps — including legacy ones — in days, not months.

If you’re ready to explore how passkeys can strengthen your CIAM strategy, book a demo with Secfense and see how easily you can modernize authentication.

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Testimonials

We are faced with new challenges every day. We must always be one step ahead of the attackers and know what they are going to do before they do it. We are convinced that the User Access Security Broker will bring security to a new level, both for those working at the office and from home. For us, working with Secfense is an opportunity to exchange experience with developers who put great value on out-of-the-box thinking.

Krzysztof Słotwiński

Business Continuity and Computer Security Officer

BNP Paribas Bank Poland

As part of the pre-implementation analysis, we verified that users utilize a wide range of client platforms: desktop computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones, and traditional mobile phones. Each of these devices differs in technological advancement, features, and level of security. Because of this, and also due to the recommendation of the Polish Financial Supervision Authority (UKNF), we decided to introduce additional protection in the form of multi-factor authentication mechanisms based on FIDO. As a result, users of our applications can log in safely, avoiding common cyber threats such as phishing, account takeover, and theft of their own and their clients’ data.

Marcin Bobruk

CEO

Sandis

We are excited to partner with Secfense to enhance our user access security for our web apps. By integrating their User Access Security Broker, we ensure seamless and secure protection for our applications and systems, delivering superior security and convenience to our customers.

Charm Abeywardana

IT & Infrastructure

Visium Networks

Before investing in Secfense, we had the opportunity to talk to its existing clients. Their reactions were unanimous: wow, it’s so easy to use. We were particularly impressed by the fact that implementing their solution does not require the involvement of IT developers. It gives Secfense a huge advantage over the competition, and at the same time opens the door to potential customers who so far were afraid of changes related to the implementation of multi-factor authentication solutions.

Mateusz Bodio

Managing Director

RKKVC

Even when the network and infrastructure are secured enough, social engineering and passwords can be used to gain control of the system by attackers. Multifactor authentication is the current trend. Secfense addresses this and allows you to build zero trust security and upgrade your current systems to passwordless applications within minutes, solving this problem right away,” said Eduard Kučera, Partner at Presto Ventures and cybersecurity expert – former Director in hugely successful Czech multinational cyber security firm Avast.

Eduard Kučera

Partner

Presto Ventures

One of the biggest challenges the world is facing today is securing our identity online. That’s why we were so keen to have Secfense in our portfolio. They make it possible to introduce strong authentication in an automated way. Until now, organizations had to selectively protect applications because the deployment of new technology was very hard, or even impossible. With Secfense, the implementation of multi-factor authentication is no longer a problem, and all organizations can use the highest standards of authentication security.

Stanislav Ivanov

Founding Partner

Tera Ventures