How does passkey adoption differ of DIY & 3rd-party solutions?

What are the differences between self-developed and third-party authentication systems in passkey adoption?#

When adopting passkeys for user authentication, organizations must choose between self-developed systems and third-party authentication providers. Each approach has distinct advantages and challenges, which are outlined below:

Self-Developed Authentication Systems#

Advantages:

• Complete Control: You can tailor the system to meet specific needs, including advanced security features and seamless integration of passkeys.
• Flexibility: Self-developed systems allow for customization of user flows and interface elements without relying on external roadmaps.
• Data Privacy: All user authentication data remains in-house, reducing reliance on external vendors.

Challenges:

• Development Cost: Building and maintaining a custom system requires significant time, budget, and expertise.
• Technical Complexity: Passkeys require adherence to WebAuthn standards, which involve advanced cryptographic protocols and device compatibility considerations. Also updates occur frequently which need to be incorporated
• Ongoing Maintenance: Ensuring the system stays updated with new security standards and features can be resource-intensive.

Third-Party Authentication Systems#

Advantages:

• Quick Implementation: Providers like Keycloak, Corbado or Amazon Cognito offer out-of-the-box solutions for passkey support.
• Lower Upfront Costs: Leveraging existing infrastructure reduces the need for significant development efforts.
• Scalability: These systems are built to handle large-scale deployments and ensure compliance with global standards.

Challenges:

• Limited Customization: Dependence on the provider’s roadmap can restrict flexibility in implementing unique features.
• Vendor Lock-In: Migrating away from a third-party system can be challenging and costly.
• Privacy Concerns: Sensitive user data is often processed by external servers, requiring careful vetting of the provider’s compliance and security measures.

Choosing the Right Option#

The choice depends on your organization’s priorities. If customization and data control are critical, a self-developed system might be the better fit. However, if speed and scalability are the main concerns, third-party providers offer a streamlined path to integrating passkeys.

For enterprises with hybrid setups, combining self-developed systems with third-party components can offer a balanced approach.

Read the full article#

About Corbado

Corbado is the Authentication Intelligence Platform for CIAM teams running consumer authentication at scale. We help you see what IDP logs and generic analytics tools can't: where passkeys, passwords, OTP, social login and fallback journeys succeed, stall or fail, which devices and browsers create friction, and when an OS update silently breaks login. Two products: Corbado Observe layers process mining and observability across authentication journeys. Corbado Connect adds managed passkeys with analytics built in alongside your IDP. VicRoads runs passkeys for 5M+ users with Corbado (+80% passkey activation). Talk to a Passkey Expert →