Simplify FIDO2 Passkey Management with Microsoft and Versasec

Date: 2025-09-24
Author: Tanya Suhorukova, Business Development Manager

At Versasec, we’ve been working with our partners, like Microsoft Security, to help companies navigate a more secure future. This post is a distillation of a recent joint session we had with Microsoft on this very topic. It’s for anyone—whether you’re an IT professional or a business leader—who wants a clear, strategic guide to transitioning to a more secure, passwordless future using Microsoft Entra ID.

Mitigating Risk: The Imperative for Phishing-Resistant Authentication
Microsoft’s Digital Defense Report confirmed what we’ve all suspected: phishing is still the biggest threat out there, causing 70% of data breaches. While multi-factor authentication (MFA) has been a crucial step forward, let’s be honest, it’s not foolproof. Attackers have found ways to bypass traditional MFA. The modern threat landscape demands a more robust approach: hardware-backed authentication that is fundamentally phishing-resistant.

Embracing a passwordless framework isn’t just about security; it’s a strategic move that improves both our security posture and our business’s operational efficiency. By getting rid of passwords, we can unlock a few key benefits:

• Improved User Experience and Productivity: Think about how much time is wasted with password resets and MFA challenges. Passwordless passkeys can cut that down from a minute to just a few seconds, letting our teams get to work faster and with less friction.
• Enhanced Security: This is where the magic happens. Passwordless authentication uses strong cryptography. The private key for authentication never leaves the device, making it impossible for a phisher to steal it. This is a formidable defense against cyberattacks.
• Reduced Operational Costs: Fewer passwords mean fewer forgotten passwords. This translates to fewer support tickets and calls to the help desk, which frees up IT resources and saves the company money.

The FIDO2 Mandate: Enterprise Security’s New Standard
In the world of passwordless, not all passkeys are created equal. While syncable passkeys are convenient, they still have security vulnerabilities. For an enterprise, the undisputed standard for security is the device-bound passkey.

A FIDO2 device-bound passkey is tied to a specific physical device, like a USB security key or a smart card. The crucial part is that the private key never leaves the device. So, even if an attacker manages to compromise a user’s cloud account, they can’t misuse the credential because the private key stays locked down on the physical hardware. It’s a game-changer.

Centralized Control: Simplifying FIDO2 Management with vSEC:CMS
I’ll be honest, navigating a new authentication framework can feel overwhelming. Managing the lifecycle of all these hardware-backed authenticators—from issuing them to replacing them—can add a ton of work for IT teams.

This is exactly the problem we set out to solve with vSEC:CMS. As a proud member of the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA), our platform integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Entra ID to simplify the entire lifecycle management of your FIDO2 security keys.

Here’s how we make it easy:

• Centralized Management: We give you one single, unified system to manage all your FIDO2 devices, so you’re not juggling multiple platforms.
• Streamlined Provisioning: Our solution supports automated issuance, including pre-issuance for remote employees and a self-service portal. This makes onboarding simple and takes the burden off your IT staff.
• Comprehensive Lifecycle Control: Beyond just the initial setup, vSEC:CMS provides tools for unblocking PINs, revoking or inactivating passkeys, and reissuing devices. You have full control throughout the device’s entire lifespan.
• Hybrid Environment Support: We built this for the real world. Our solution can manage both FIDO2 passkeys and traditional certificates on the same device, perfect for hybrid environments.
• Automation and Auditing: Our no-code configurations automate key tasks and provide a full audit trail of all actions, ensuring consistency and compliance.

Charting Your Path to a Passwordless Future

The data is clear. Passwords are a significant risk, and the time to act is now. Microsoft strongly recommends that organizations enable FIDO2 passkey policies in their Entra ID tenants, starting with a pilot group of administrators.

For IT managers and business leaders who want to implement FIDO2 with a solution that offers centralized management, automation, and full lifecycle control, vSEC:CMS is a robust, future-proof platform. It’s a way to secure your enterprise for years to come while also reducing the burden on your IT team.

If you’d like to learn more about this strategic transition, I highly recommend watching our full webinar. You can find it on the Versasec YouTube channel.
What steps are you taking to prepare your organization for a passwordless future?

 

About Author – Tanya Suhorukova

As a Manager of Business Partnerships at Versasec, Tatjana Suhorukova leads the company’s efforts to forge strategic alliances and expand its global presence. Drawing on over 15 years of expertise in project management, business, and marketing, she is adept at developing and executing go-to-market strategies that deliver tangible results and drive significant growth.

About Guest Speaker – Eleanor Falla

Eleanor Falla, a Senior Product Manager at Microsoft, boasts an impressive 9-year tenure with the company. As a member of the Customer Experience Engineering Independent Software Vendor (ISV) team, Eleanor collaborates closely with third-party vendors to create seamless integrations with Microsoft Entra. Her laser focus on identity solutions has been instrumental in enhancing customer experiences and empowering partners. When she’s not shaping the future of security solutions, you’ll find her embracing the great outdoors in the Seattle area. Whether skiing down snow-covered slopes during winter, enjoying sun-kissed beach days in the summer, or seeking out the best restaurants in the area, Eleanor cherishes these moments alongside her husband and their dogs.

About Versasec Speaker – Anders Adolfsson

Anders Adolfsson is Versasec’s Global Product Manager. He is an experienced solutions architect with extensive experience in bringing products and ideas to the market, mostly with new and emerging technologies for Fortune 500 enterprises. Anders has been with Versasec for 10 years and brings to his position more than 30 years of experience in IT, sales, pre-sales, services, project management, and development. Before being Product Manager, Adolfsson worked as a Technical Consultant in the Nordics Region and as IT Director.

Note: This blog was drafted with the help of AI.