According to Forrester Research, resetting a single password can cost an organization approximately $70. This figure reflects both the direct expenses associated with IT staff time and the indirect costs tied to decreased employee productivity. For a medium-sized company, this can amount to an estimated $5.2 million annually spent on password management. Supporting this, Gartner’s 2024 guidance highlights that as much as 40% of IT support efforts are dedicated to password-related tasks. In response, analysts and industry experts advocate for self-service password reset (SSPR) systems.
As businesses scale across borders, the adoption of passwordless systems to ensure instant, secured access for employees has become a trusted methodology. In a world that is highly connected and increasingly reliant on digital tools, one nuance is clear: The growing interest in passwordless authentication is about solving real challenges and thwarting security risks, lost productivity, and rising IT overhead with greater employee satisfaction.
The Hidden Costs of ‘Forgotten Passwords’
Passwords that are forgotten while logging in may seem harmless enough; however, for large organizations, they come at a surprising cost. The numbers back it up: Dashlane’s 2024 enterprise report found that each employee loses about 11 hours a year just managing passwords—time spent remembering, resetting, or waiting for access. In a 20,000-person organization, that adds up to more than two lakh hours of productivity lost annually.
Here’s the security aspect: IBM’s 2024 report on data breaches highlights that compromised credentials remain the most common point of entry for cyberattacks. Clearly, the system is showing its cracks.
What Passwordless Trend can truly offer: Facial Recognition, Fingerprints, Push Notifications..
Moving to passwordless authentication means replacing the traditional style of password log-in with smarter, more intuitive methods, such as Facial Recognition, Fingerprints, Push Notifications to verified devices, or hardware tokens. In many cases, these methods are already familiar to us through our smartphones. The difference in the workplace – They’re faster, safer, and reduce the likelihood of someone else gaining unauthorized access.
More than just a login upgrade, this shift is about rethinking how identity is verified — building in trust, security, and simplicity from the start.
India’s Digital Maturity: A Natural Fit
India is well-positioned to lead the evolved security change. From Aadhaar-based identity to biometric eKYC processes, digital verification has already become part of everyday life for millions. Indian enterprises — especially in IT, financial services, and global service delivery — are already managing identity at scale. That makes Indian enterprises ideal candidates for a shift to passwordless systems.
Further, Indian cybersecurity firms are building solutions tailored to local needs, giving organizations access to homegrown innovation alongside global tools.
Globally Distributed Teams Go Passwordless: Top 3 Reasons
For global enterprises with staff spread across different time zones, departments, and locations, the advantages of a passwordless system are evident:
1. More Security, Fewer Vulnerabilities
With remote and hybrid work trends here to stay, the digital perimeter has expanded. Passwordless authentication helps reduce vulnerabilities tied to weak or reused passwords, phishing, and credential theft. It’s a critical part of modern security frameworks like Zero Trust.
2. Improved Efficiency across Borders and User Populations
When employees can’t access systems, work slows down. Whether it’s a customer service representative in Pune (India) or a consultant in London (UK), with passwordless login methods, access becomes quicker and disruptions are minimized. Thereby, allowing global teams to stay focused on their work. It is important to note that passwordless access can also be provided to everyone in the workforce including users in restricted environments (eg. Call Centers, White Rooms) with the use of different factors .
3. Unified, Seamless Experience
Enterprises operating in multiple countries often struggle to standardize IT practices. Better compliance and stronger control is possible with data protection laws (India’s DPDPA, Europe’s GDPR). Organizations must take up measures to control, moderate and demonstrate information. Indeed, Passwordless systems improve visibility and audit readiness, which is particularly valuable for industries like banking, healthcare, and telecom.
Making the Transition: Begin Now
Transitioning to a passwordless environment must be done in a calculated, phased manner with a flexible approach.
Step 1: Start with an assessment to identify high-friction access points (e.g., VPNs, CRMs, Operating Systems, HR portals).
Step 2: Roll out gradually, beginning with internal IT or client-facing teams. Select platforms that are cloud-ready, scalable, and compliant with local and global regulations.
Step 3: Support your people with training and clear communication. Monitor the shift and refine the rollout based on feedback and data.
Today, how we access our systems and data matters more than ever. The new ‘passwordless authentication’ norm can bolster every leading organization’s efforts to build a workplace that is agile, resilient, and prepared for whatever comes next. For large business houses with teams spread across multiple geographies, the traditional approach to managing access with passwords feels increasingly out of step with the needs of a modern, mobile, and global workforce.
Good news: With passwordless authentication, every employee can effectively experience a fabulous User Interface with ease and a rewarding User Experience to stay focused on real work tasks
A Safer, Smarter Way Forward!
For global enterprises and Indian firms powering much of the world’s digital backbone, the message is simple: Passwordless authentication is an opportunity to enhance security, boost efficiency, and support employees in doing their best work without unnecessary barriers.
This is the definitive future. Being ready today for the ever-evolving demands of business, the expectations of talent, and the realities of cybersecurity, thereby boosting productivity and profits seamlessly.