Microsoft promises to make the transition to a password-free environment

Microsoft promises to make the transition to a password-free environment as seamless as possible.

Around 200 million people who use Microsoft services have already abandoned passwords.

Microsoft is upgrading its popular cloud storage platform to make it easier for millions of people to dump their passwords.

The tech giant revealed at its Ignite conference on Tuesday that passwordless login would become a standard feature for Azure Active Directory, a cloud-based service consumers can use to manage their employees’ login chores. The three-day conference is tailored for IT and other engineering workers who use Microsoft’s products and is being held online this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a separate update, Microsoft is eliminating a possible obstacle to going passwordless by implementing Temporary Access Pass, a new technology that makes it easier for users to sign up for new services without having to construct a password. It’s a one-time, short-term login code that IT managers can send to new users. It can also be used to regain account access in the event of a crisis, such as the loss of a security key or a phone used for login. However, it is currently only available as a preview technology.

That’s why security experts are increasingly relying on biometric authentication systems like Windows Hello, Apple’s Face ID, and Yubico’s YubiKeys to supplement passwords.

Microsoft’s efforts to remove passwords are paying off. According to Joy Chik, who manages Microsoft’s identity products, roughly 200 million people have activated passwordless login for Microsoft services including Outlook and Xbox Live. Last May, 150 million people had allowed passwordless login, which is up by a third.