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Identity Security Readiness
Passkeys are here. Is the rest of your identity security ready?
Before you deploy passkeys, assess the users, devices, access policies and recovery processes that will determine whether the change works.
Authentication is changing. Is your organisation ready?
Identity remains one of the most targeted attack vectors for cyber criminals. While many organisations have implemented MFA, authentication methods, access policies and account protections often evolve over time, creating gaps that increase risk.
Passkeys are bringing renewed focus to identity security. Microsoft has begun rolling out passkeys as the default authentication experience in Entra ID, with Microsoft-provided SMS and voice authentication due to be retired from 1 February 2027.
This creates a clear opportunity to review your wider identity controls and ensure your organisation is ready for stronger, phishing-resistant authentication.
MFA may be in place. Identity risk can still remain.
Passkeys are only one part of a secure identity strategy. These are some of the key areas organisations should review before deploying stronger authentication methods.
Legacy Authentication
Older authentication methods can bypass modern security controls, creating hidden security gaps and increasing the risk of account compromise, even when MFA is enabled.
Phishing-resistant MFA
Traditional MFA can still leave organisations exposed to phishing and session-based attacks. Stronger authentication methods, including passkeys, provide greater resistance to credential compromise.
Conditional Access
Well-configured Conditional Access policies help ensure the right users can access the right resources under the right conditions.
Privileged Accounts
Administrative and high-privilege accounts often provide access to critical systems, making them a key target for attackers and cyber criminals.
Device Code Authentication
Device Code Flow supports authentication on input-constrained devices, but unnecessary use can introduce identity risk and should be restricted where possible.
Passwordless Readiness
Successful passkey adoption depends on user readiness, device compatibility, supporting policies and the right identity security foundations being in place.
Before you deploy passkeys, ask these 7-questions
Traditional MFA methods can still be vulnerable to phishing and session-based attacks. Moving towards phishing-resistant authentication, including passkeys, helps provide stronger protection for users and privileged accounts.
Older methods such as SMS, voice and other phishable authentication options can weaken your overall security. Understanding where they are still used helps you plan a controlled move towards stronger, phishing-resistant authentication.
Privileged accounts provide elevated access to critical systems and can present significant risk if compromised. These accounts should be prioritised for stronger, phishing-resistant authentication and appropriate access controls.
Emergency-access accounts provide a route back into critical systems when normal authentication is unavailable. They still require strong protection, appropriate access controls and regular testing to ensure they remain both secure and usable.
Conditional Access policies play an important role in determining how and when users authenticate. Reviewing them before Passkey deployment helps ensure existing policies support the intended experience without introducing unnecessary access or security gaps.
Device Code Flow supports authentication where signing in directly on a device may be difficult. Where it is not genuinely required, unnecessary use should be restricted and legitimate use appropriately controlled through Conditional Access.
Successful Passkey adoption goes beyond technical configuration. Compatible devices, a representative pilot group, clear registration and recovery processes, user communications and service-desk guidance all help support a controlled rollout.
Get the Identity Security Readiness Checklist
Identify potential gaps and prepare for a more informed discussion about your next step.
What does good identity security look like?
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Authentication - Strong MFA adoption and readiness for passwordless authentication.
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Access Controls - Policies that ensure the right people access the right resources under the right conditions.
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Privileged Access - Additional protection for high-risk accounts with elevated permissions.
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Identity Governance - Visibility and control over who has access to systems, applications and data.
Why work with Zensec
Most organisations can access technical guidance on passkeys. What many need is clarity on what those changes mean for their own environment.
Our Identity Security Readiness Review helps organisations understand their current level of maturity, identify gaps that may increase identity risk and prioritise practical improvements that support stronger authentication.
Rather than focusing solely on deployment, we help organisations assess the wider controls that contribute to a secure and resilient identity strategy.
What happens after the assessment?
Your assessment helps identify your current level of identity security readiness and highlights the most appropriate next step based on your environment, risks and authentication maturity.
Whether you’re ready to progress, need to address specific gaps or would benefit from further review, the assessment provides a clearer picture of your current position and priorities.
Your organisation has strong identity security foundations in place and is well positioned to begin planning a passkey rollout. Existing controls appear to support stronger authentication, allowing you to focus on deployment, user adoption and ongoing governance.
Some areas may require attention before deployment to strengthen identity security and reduce risk. Addressing gaps in authentication controls, access policies or account protections can help create a more secure and resilient foundation for modern authentication.
Additional assessment, stakeholder engagement or planning may help identify priorities and uncover areas that require further attention. A more detailed review can help reduce risk and support a smoother transition to stronger authentication methods.
Beyond passkey deployment
Technology alone does not reduce risk. Successful authentication modernisation requires the right identity controls, access policies and security foundations to be in place.
Our Identity Security Readiness Review helps organisations identify gaps, reduce risk and prepare for stronger authentication with confidence.
Most organisations can access technical guidance on passkeys. What many need is clarity on what those changes mean for their own environment. We help organisations understand their current position, identify opportunities for improvement and prioritise practical actions that strengthen identity security.
We can help
Frequently asked questions
Key information when you’re under pressure.
A passkey is a phishing-resistant authentication method designed to replace traditional passwords and reduce reliance on weaker authentication methods.
Microsoft has begun moving towards passkeys as the default authentication experience in Entra ID, while Microsoft-provided SMS and voice authentication is due to be retired from 1 February 2027. The important first step is understanding whether your identity environment is ready for stronger authentication.
No. The wider goal is phishing-resistant authentication. Passkeys are one route, but your approach should reflect your users, systems and existing identity environment.