Passwords are a fact of life in the modern era. The proliferation of digital services in recent years means people are creating more user accounts than ever and juggling, on average, anywhere from 20 to 100 passwords. Trying to remember them all is impossible, and being asked constantly to create new, unique ones can be tedious. This results in using the same or similar passwords for work and personal accounts which can leave enterprises and their customers at risk of account takeover (ATO).

Vendors are trying to solve password challenges by replacing them with alternative “passwordless” solutions. But despite their weakness as authentication tools and the hassle they may cause some, passwords are here to stay for the foreseeable future. They are a simple, cost-effective, and ubiquitous security measure that is easy to implement and has virtually no learning curve for the average user.

Examining the state of password security today and the challenges facing passwordless solutions, this SpyCloud report [PDF] offers clear guidance on protecting your user accounts without having to reinvent the wheel.