Although Microsoft is one of the most-attacked companies globally, the company allows 90 percent of its employees to log on to corporate network without a password, according to CNBC.
Microsoft's Chief Security Officer Bret Arsenault called this a reflection on the "passwordless future" the company has been talking about for years. To eliminate the need for passwords, Microsoft has developed products to remove the need to memorize a string of confusing terms and phrases.
Rather, the technology company has employees choose between different options, including Windows Hello and the Authenticator app, which provides alternatives for logging into a computer network, such as facial recognition and fingerprints, CNBC reports.
"We all sort of declared years ago that identity would be our new perimeter. People are very focused on taking advantage of identity, it's become a classic: hackers don't break in, they log in. I see that as a huge, huge thing for us to work on," Mr. Arsenault told CNBC.
One method Mr. Arsenault is talking about is "password spraying." This is when a hacker tries to access a large number of accounts at a single time using some of the most commonly used passwords. While very basic, the method is effective.
When a hacker gets access to a network through a single employee, they can do serious damage, such as stealing corporate information and impersonating employees.
Microsoft is not the only company looking to leave passwords in 2019. Google is testing alternatives to passwords along with Cisco.
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