Google added consumer passkey supported a month ago. In addition, Google Workspace and Cloud passkeys are now available in open beta for business users.
Google, like most other IT companies, has long-fought passwords. Passkeys are safer than passwords and multifactor authentication because users can use their phones, desktops, or laptops to sign into websites and apps using the same biometric or PIN code they use for their devices. These gadgets require physical access, so adversaries are less likely to access them mistakenly.
Passkeys, like physical security keys, are phishing-resistant because their cryptographic methods are similar. In addition, Google found that passkeys are twice as fast and four times less error-prone than passwords.
“Over the past decade Google has been at the forefront of the battle against phishing and password-related threats, including with our automated defenses powered by Google AI,” wrote Google Workspace product manager Jeroen Kemperman and Workspace engineering manager Shruti Kulkarni in today’s announcement.
We promoted physical security keys and their FIDO Alliance standardization. Passkeys, a simpler and more secure alternative to passwords, are the conclusion of this endeavor to provide phishing-resistant technology to billions of people.
Google is releasing this new Workspace feature slowly, as usual. However, admins can activate user passkeys and skip passwords at sign-in in the coming weeks.
