As critical services evolve across Europe, Zero Trust has emerged as the best way to mitigate cyber threats. At its heart lies passwordless identity security—an approach that ensures every access request is verified, every user has the right privileges, and every anomaly is detected.
Let’s review why why passwordless identity is central to Zero Trust and list some actionable steps for making it a reality.
Modern critical infrastructure operates across a sprawling digital landscape. SCADA systems, operational technology (OT), IoT devices, mobile workforces—the perimeter is everywhere. Zero Trust aims to validate every user and every device every time. At its core? Strong, passwordless identity security.
Passwords have long been the weakest link in cybersecurity. Phishing attacks, brute force compromises, and reused credentials can open the door for ransomware and other threats. By replacing passwords with strong, cryptographic methods like FIDO2 hardware, mobile biometrics, or risk-adaptive access controls, critical infrastructure organisations can protect the entry points that matter most.
Today, passwordless identity goes beyond traditional MFA by incorporating:
- Biometric Verification—enables access tied to a user’s unique biological signature
- Risk-Adaptive Authentication—evaluates context (user role, device posture, geolocation) before granting access
- Certificate-Based Identity—strong PKI-based trust guarantees access is granted only to authorised users
With Zero Trust built on strong, passwordless identity, operators can:
- Maintain compliance with regulations like NIS2
- Minimise the risk of ransomware and supply chain attacks
- Ensure continuity despite incidents or outages
Passwordless identity doesn’t stop at replacing passwords. The future will incorporate AI and behavioural analytics—allowing organisations to detect anomalies before access is granted.
Zero Trust isn’t just a philosophy—it’s an architectural shift. Passwordless identity provides the backbone, ensuring every access request is verified, every user has only the privileges they need, and every anomaly can be acted upon quickly.
