---
url: 'https://www.corbado.com/blog/passkeys-login-consulting'
title: 'Passkeys in Consulting: How to Enhance Authentication'
description: 'Passkeys in consulting helps firms streamline authentication. Reduce login friction, enhance security and boost efficiency with passkey advisory services.'
lang: 'en'
author: 'Leo'
date: '2025-03-17T10:41:08.336Z'
lastModified: '2026-03-27T07:01:13.995Z'
keywords: 'passkey consulting, consulting for passkeys, authentication in consulting, passkey advisory, login consulting, iam consulting, passkey consulting service, passkey advice'
category: 'Passkeys Strategy'
---

# Passkeys in Consulting: How to Enhance Authentication

## Key Facts

- **Passkeys eliminate shared secrets** and bind authentication to specific domains,
  directly countering phishing risks and multi-domain login friction that define
  consulting work.
- Consultants rotate through **up to 8 projects per year**, each with distinct
  authentication environments that force repeated logout/re-login cycles between firm and
  client domains.
- Enterprise trials show firms adopting passkeys achieved a **50% decrease** in
  password-related support tickets, covering resets and account lockouts.
- **Consolidated MFA** via passkeys replaces separate push notifications and biometric
  checks, fulfilling multiple authentication factors in a single local device
  confirmation.
- Clients in **regulated industries** like banking and healthcare may block adoption, as
  regulators have not formally recognized synced passkeys as a compliant authentication
  method.

## 1. Key Findings: Passkeys in the Consulting Industry

- **Consultants Handle Highly Sensitive Data:** Their privileged access to client
  information makes them prime [phishing](https://www.corbado.com/glossary/phishing) targets, demanding robust
  login security.
- **Complex Security Measures Affect Productivity:** Multiple MFA prompts,
  [password resets](https://www.corbado.com/faq/passkeys-reduce-password-resets-otp-costs) and disk encryption
  add friction and cost consultants valuable time
- **Multiple Domains Compound Challenges:** Switching between the firm’s and clients’
  environments requires repeated logins, further straining busy schedules
- **Passkeys Reduce Phishing Risks and Streamline MFA:** Public-key cryptography
  eliminates shared secrets, domain-binding prevents [phishing](https://www.corbado.com/glossary/phishing) and
  convenience of passkeys simplifies user authentication
- **Passkey Adoption Can Increase Efficiency:** In a fully passkey-enabled environment,
  consultancies could seamlessly handle multiple accounts with minimal repeated
  authentication, balancing strong security with improved workflow

## 2. Passkey Consulting Services for Passkey Integration

Looking for expert passkey consulting services to integrate passkeys into your existing
authentication stack? Our passkey advisory services provide in-depth guidance on passkey
implementation consulting, ensuring a smooth transition to modern authentication.

With extensive expertise in IAM consulting and
[passkey strategy](https://www.corbado.com/blog/passkeys-product-design-strategy) consulting, we help
organizations deploy secure, [phishing](https://www.corbado.com/glossary/phishing)-resistant authentication while
minimizing disruption to existing workflows.

Our passkey expertise consulting covers:

- Passkey integration advice tailored to your infrastructure
- End-to-end passkey project consulting for seamless rollout
- Best practices in passkey implementation to enhance security & UX
- [Troubleshooting](https://www.corbado.com/blog/passkey-troubleshooting-solutions) and optimization of
  [passkey adoption](https://www.corbado.com/blog/passkey-adoption-business-case)

Whether you're evaluating [passkey strategy](https://www.corbado.com/blog/passkeys-product-design-strategy)
consulting or need hands-on passkey deployment support, we can help. Contact us today for
expert passkey advice and transform your authentication experience.

## 3. Introduction: Why Cyber Security matters in Strategy Consulting

In **strategy consulting**, securing digital information is not only a formality but
rather a fundamental necessity. Consultants are entrusted with highly sensitive data, from
M\&A plans and competitive strategies to intellectual property and financial forecasts
that can make or break a client’s market position. A single security breach can cause
severe legal repercussions, brand damage and a loss of trust that can take years to
rebuild. For both consultancies and their clients, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

### 3.1 Deloitte Consulting Rhode Island Cyber Attack 2024

Let’s take an example. In 2024 Deloitte Consulting LLP failed to protect the sensitive
information of Rhode Island individuals applying for or receiving
[government](https://www.corbado.com/passkeys-for-public-sector) benefits, leading to a December cyberattack that
exposed the personal data of thousands, a proposed class action said. In relation to
revenue, this is not a large sum, but the damage to the image of potential clients can be
all the greater, especially in low-margin Big Four consulting business.

Because of this risk, **consultants are prime targets for phishing attempts**. Cyber
criminals reason that if they can compromise a consultant’s account, they gain valuable
data - often across multiple client engagements. From carefully crafted emails pretending
to be internal IT requests to malicious files disguised as routine documents, phishing
attacks [exploit](https://www.corbado.com/glossary/exploit) the high-pressure environment consultants operate in,
hoping that even the most diligent professionals might slip up when juggling complex
deliverables.

### 3.2 The Downsides of High Security Standards in Consulting

The natural response from consultancies is a **“better safe than sorry”** posture: disk
encryption (e.g. BitLocker),
[high speed VPN connections](https://nordvpn.com/features/high-speed-vpn/), endpoint
monitoring tools, password rotation every 60 or 90 days, multi-factor authentication (MFA)
and even device-locking mechanisms that trigger after a brief period of inactivity. These
measures are important for protecting data. However, they also create friction for
end-users. Consider a typical consultant’s day:

- **Frequent system lockouts**: If you step away from your laptop for coffee or to take a
  phone call, you’ll need to re-enter long passwords or go through a second biometric
  check.
- **Slow performance**: Continuous monitoring and encryption services can sap your
  device’s speed, particularly if you’re analyzing massive Excel files or running
  sophisticated data analytics.
- **Missed deadlines or awkward meetings**: If a session times out at an inopportune
  moment - like a client workshop - productivity grinds to a halt and you risk appearing
  unprepared.

In **strategy consulting**, time literally is money. Every additional minute spent
fiddling with authentication or waiting for antivirus checks is a minute not spent
delivering insights for your client. Over months and years, these micro-delays accumulate
into significant productivity losses. At times, extreme security can also hamper user
experience so severely that crucial tasks - such as retrieving a large file quickly for a
[stakeholder](https://www.corbado.com/blog/passkeys-stakeholder) meeting - are delayed or obstructed, hurting the
consultant’s effectiveness on the job.

Let’s explore the following:

- The **three main login scenarios** that consultants deal with
- Highlight why they can be so disruptive
- Examine how **passkey solutions** might offer a more seamless alternative

## 4. Analysis of Login Behavior at Consultancies and Advisories

### 4.1 Base Case: Logging into the Company Laptop

Let’s start with a situation everyone in consulting faces daily: turning on a
company-issued Windows laptop to kick off the workday. Typically, you’ll encounter:

1. **BitLocker PIN**: An 8-digit numeric code required to decrypt the hard drive before
   Windows boots up.
2. **Windows Login**: A password, PIN or biometric check (e.g. fingerprint or face
   recognition via [Windows Hello](https://www.corbado.com/glossary/windows-hello)).
3. **Security Software Checks**: Company policies often demand real-time monitoring agents
   or VPN validation, which can take extra time and resources to load.

While this setup is understandable for high-stakes data protection, it also creates
friction - particularly when you’re busy switching between tasks. Consultants might lock
and unlock their laptops dozens of times a day as they move between meeting rooms, take
calls, or manage sensitive emails. Each step, from the BitLocker PIN to Windows login,
adds a few more seconds or clicks.

In a normal office job, these seconds may be negligible. However, in **consulting**, where
days can stretch into late evenings and early mornings on tight client deadlines,
micro-delays accumulate. Over weeks, the time spent repeatedly performing MFA or entering
passwords can become substantial, reducing overall productivity and contributing to user
fatigue.

**When Laptop Login Becomes a Bottleneck**

- **Performance Overhead**: Background security scans can slow your device, so you’re
  often waiting for your machine to “warm up” even after logging in.
- **Frequent Lockouts**: Sensitive data leads to stricter idle-time policies, meaning your
  device might lock itself far more quickly than a typical laptop would.
- **Relogin Loops**: A short coffee break or phone call can force another cycle of
  BitLocker PIN → Windows password → MFA.

These are not insurmountable hurdles, but they do sap mental
[energy](https://www.corbado.com/passkeys-for-energy). In high-pressure strategy consulting, every moment counts
and these interruptions can disrupt the flow needed for deep analytical or creative work.

### 4.2 Login to 3rd Party Applications

Next, consultants rely on a wide range of **third-party apps** to support their workflow:

- **Project Management**: Trello, Asana, or Jira.
- **Collaborative Brainstorming**: Miro or MURAL.
- **Administrative Tools**: HR platforms like Personio, time-tracking time-tracking
  software like [Myhours](https://myhours.com/) and [travel](https://www.corbado.com/passkeys-for-travel) expense
  tools.
- **File Storage/Sharing**: Often integrated with OneDrive, Box, or Google Drive,
  depending on client and firm preferences.

To streamline these services, most consultancies adopt **Single Sign-On (SSO)** solutions,
such as Okta or Microsoft Azure AD. On paper, [SSO](https://www.corbado.com/blog/passkeys-single-sign-on-sso)
lets you remember a single username and password to access multiple applications. In
practice, [SSO](https://www.corbado.com/blog/passkeys-single-sign-on-sso) usually requires a second layer of
**MFA**:

1. You navigate to the [SSO](https://www.corbado.com/blog/passkeys-single-sign-on-sso) portal and enter corporate
   credentials.
2. You might receive a push notification on your phone. You must confirm this via
   fingerprint or PIN.
3. The SSO portal confirms your identity and grants you temporary session tokens to access
   third-party apps.

![bcg login](https://www.corbado.com/website-assets/bcg_login_d2c38481d5.png)

This process can repeat multiple times a day whenever sessions expire. For instance, if
your Trello session times out or you need to open the HR platform after a period of
inactivity, you might have to repeat the entire MFA step. Coupled with the standard
security software checks, all these steps can feel redundant.

**Micro-stress**: Thirty seconds here, two minutes there - it all adds up. When under a
deadline to deliver a client deck, you might only need to glance at Trello for a quick
task update; an extra MFA loop can feel disproportionately burdensome.

While it’s vastly more secure than the old days of reusing weak passwords across multiple
applications, this approach often results in what we call “authentication fatigue.” When
you’re juggling several tasks simultaneously - preparing slides, taking a call and
retrieving data from an HR portal - these forced breaks in momentum can be exasperating.

### 4.3 Login to Client Environments

**This is where consulting truly differentiates itself** from other corporate jobs. You’re
not just dealing with your consultancy’s internal security protocols but also those of
your **clients**. Over the course of a single year, many consultants rotate **up to eight
different projects**, each with its own environment and authentication approach.

1. **External Email Accounts**: Often, you receive an external email address like
   [firstname.lastname@client-external.com](mailto:firstname.lastname@client-external.com)
   to sign into the client’s Office 365 or other services.
2. **Two-Factor or More**: Clients frequently have their own MFA methods, meaning you
   might have to manage separate authentication apps or hardware tokens.
3. **File Sharing**: Clients may block external sharing links altogether, forcing you to
   download large data sets only through their secure network or a dedicated folder.

![okta verify account](https://www.corbado.com/website-assets/okta_verify_account_fb798a9cbc.png)

#### 4.3.1 The Double-Domain Dilemma of Being an Advisor

A major friction point arises when you need to alternate between your consulting firm’s
domain and the client’s domain within the same day - or even multiple times an hour. You
might be working on client files in Microsoft Teams or SharePoint (logged in with your
client-external.com account), then suddenly need to access your internal HR system or
time-tracking portal. Each transition can involve:

- Logging out of the client account.
- Clearing cookies or switching to an incognito window.
- Logging back into your consultancy’s domain with your standard SSO and MFA.
- Then logging out again to re-access the client environment.

While some use a second browser profile or incognito windows, these are workarounds rather
than solutions - and still require repeated logins. Microsoft Teams, for example, supports
multiple accounts in theory, but wasn’t truly designed for frequent switching between
them. Consultants often find that switching accounts within Microsoft Teams triggers
additional authentication loops or partial logouts, forcing them to re-verify credentials
over and over.

![bcg unexpected error](https://www.corbado.com/website-assets/bcg_fcebf61df6.png)

#### 4.3.2 Result: Time-Consuming and frictioned Login Experience

This back-and-forth is time-consuming and stressful, especially under tight project
deadlines. The lack of smooth multi-account transitions adds friction exactly when you
need quick, seamless access to data and
[collaboration tools](https://clariti.app/blog/online-collaboration-tools/).

## 5. How Passkeys could ease the Pain in Consulting Scenarios

Let’s analyze the potential of passkeys for these use cases.

### 5.1 Security Benefits & User Convenience for Advisories

**Passkeys** represent a modern approach to authentication, built on public-key
cryptography standards like **FIDO2** and **WebAuthn**. A passkey involves a **public
key** stored with the service provider (e.g. your consultancy or client’s server) and a
**private key** stored securely on your device (e.g., in a Trusted Platform Module or
[Secure Enclave](https://www.corbado.com/glossary/secure-enclave)). This arrangement confers several advantages:

- **Phishing-Resistance**: Attackers can’t trick you into revealing your private key
  because it never leaves your device. Even if you clicked on a fake login page, there’s
  no password to steal.
- **Consolidated MFA**: Biometric or PIN-based approval on your device can act as both
  “something you have” and “something you are/know,” effectively fulfilling multiple
  factors in one step.
- **Speed and Simplicity**: No more laborious password creation or rotation. You simply
  confirm your identity via a fingerprint scan or [Face ID](https://www.corbado.com/faq/is-face-id-passkey), and
  the passkey completes a secure
  [cryptographic challenge](https://www.corbado.com/glossary/cryptographic-challenge) in the background.

### 5.2 Comparison to Existing IAM Methods

- **Passwords + Password Managers**: While password managers help generate strong
  credentials, they still rely on a shared secret. By contrast, a passkey exchange never
  reveals your private key to the server.
- **SSO + MFA**: SSO remains valuable, but passkeys can simplify how often you’re prompted
  to prove your identity. Instead of receiving a smartphone push for every app you open,
  you could rely on a single passkey-based authentication per session.

**Potential Data Point**: According to early enterprise trials, large firms adopting
passkeys saw a **50% decrease** in password-related support tickets - ranging from resets
to account lockouts - and a substantial drop in phishing incidents.

### 5.3 Revisiting the Three Use Cases

1. **Company Laptop**: With passkeys, **disk encryption** and **user login** could merge
   into a single, biometric-driven step. While secure boot processes like BitLocker will
   still need a key, future hardware and OS integrations could tie this neatly into a
   device’s onboard secure element.
2. **3rd Party Apps**: A passkey-based SSO workflow would allow near-instant verification
   whenever you log into Trello, Miro, or HR portals. Instead of re-entering a password or
   waiting for an MFA push, you’d confirm with your local
   [device biometrics](https://www.corbado.com/blog/passkeys-local-biometrics).
3. **Client Environments**: The holy grail would be a passkey federation where multiple
   domains trust your single cryptographic credential. Switching between your consultancy
   and various client domains would be more like selecting the appropriate identity from
   your passkey manager, significantly reducing the repetitive logouts and re-logins.

## 6. Potential Limitations of Passkeys in Consulting

It’s important to acknowledge that **passkeys aren’t a cure-all**. Especially in
consulting, where multiple organizations, regulations, and IT ecosystems intersect, there
are hurdles:

### 6.1 Regulatory & Compliance Constraints in some Industries

Clients in regulated industries (e.g. [banking](https://www.corbado.com/passkeys-for-banking),
[healthcare](https://www.corbado.com/passkeys-for-healthcare)) may still require legacy authentication methods
for compliance.

Some regulators have not yet formally recognized
[synced passkey](https://www.corbado.com/blog/device-bound-synced-passkeys)-based logins as a compliant
authentication method. However, this is likely going to change in the very near future.

### 6.2 Consulting Clients might not be Passkey-Ready

Consultants can’t force a client’s IT department to overhaul their infrastructure. If the
client environment relies on legacy systems, passkeys might not be an option.

Rolling out passkey support often requires server-side updates or new protocols. Older or
proprietary platforms can be slow to adapt.

### 6.3 Consultants use multiple Devices

Many consultants switch between a company laptop, personal tablet and smartphone. Passkeys
typically sync via cloud services (e.g. [iCloud Keychain](https://www.corbado.com/glossary/icloud-keychain),
[Google Password Manager](https://www.corbado.com/blog/how-to-use-google-password-manager)), and cross-platform
compatibility is still evolving.

### 6.4 Adaptability of Consultants

While consultants are often tech-savvy, widespread adoption requires training and a shift
in habits. Even a simpler method can feel foreign at first.

However, given consultants’ reputation for agility, this shouldn’t be a major stumbling
block once the technology is well-introduced.

### 6.5 Inconsistent Passkey Implementations

If you work with multiple clients, some may have partially implemented passkeys, others
might be purely password-based, and still others rely on proprietary tokens. This
patchwork can reduce the overall benefits passkeys provide, since friction remains in
certain domains.

Despite these constraints, passkeys tackle many of the most irritating problems associated
with the current reliance on passwords, tokens, and frequent MFA prompts - particularly in
complex, multi-domain environments.

## 7. Conclusion: Passkeys, Logins & Authentication in Consulting

In this blog post, we tried to answer the following question:

**Does it make sense for consultancies to employ passkeys wherever possible?**

Given the complexity of **Login @ Consulting** - layered security protocols, multiple
third-party tools, and frequent client-domain switching - passkeys offer a compelling
vision. They significantly improve **phishing-resistance**, slash **login friction**,and
could unify the user experience across multiple environments.

Yet full adoption won’t happen overnight. Legacy systems, regulatory hesitations, and
varying client readiness mean the transition will be incremental. Despite these
challenges, the **passwordless login** revolution is gaining momentum - driven by major
players like Apple, Google and Microsoft pushing for broader
[FIDO2](https://www.corbado.com/glossary/fido2)/WebAuthn adoption.

For consultants, passkeys represent a great potential: A more **secure consulting
environment** that requires fewer hoops to jump through when switching tasks,
significantly reducing the daily frustration of repeated logins and persistent MFA
prompts. Over time, as more clients align with these standards, we could see an
authentication landscape that’s both more user-friendly and more robust against modern
cyber threats.

**Looking Ahead: Passkeys can be a major UX uplift in Consulting**

Imagine powering on your laptop and being instantly recognized via a biometric check,
unlocking both your disk encryption and your corporate session without needing separate
PIN codes. Switching between your firm’s Office 365 domain and a client’s Teams
environment might be as simple as selecting the relevant passkey in a
[single sign-on](https://www.corbado.com/blog/passkeys-single-sign-on-sso) dashboard - no cookie clearing, no
repeated incognito sessions. If you momentarily lose internet connection or your phone
battery dies, your device still has a locally stored private key to authenticate you
securely.

For **strategy consultants** who often log in dozens of times a day, that’s an immense
relief - and a direct enabler of better client service.

No single technology solves every pain point, but as consultancies grapple with the
perfect blend of efficiency and security, **adopting passkeys** wherever feasible is a
logical, forward-looking step.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What makes authentication in consulting more complex than in other corporate jobs?

Consultants rotate through up to 8 different projects per year, each with its own
authentication environment requiring separate client email accounts, MFA methods and
file-sharing credentials. This double-domain dilemma forces repeated logout and re-login
cycles when switching between the firm's domain and client domains within the same
workday.

### Why are consulting firms particularly vulnerable to phishing attacks?

Compromising a single consultant's account grants attackers access to sensitive data
across multiple client engagements simultaneously, including M\&A plans, competitive
strategies and financial forecasts. High-pressure deadlines and frequent context switching
create conditions where even diligent professionals may fall for phishing attempts
disguised as routine IT requests.

### How would passkeys change the laptop login experience for consultants?

Consultants currently face a multi-step sequence of BitLocker PIN, Windows login and
security software checks each time their laptop locks, which occurs dozens of times daily.
Passkeys could merge disk encryption and user login into a single biometric step,
eliminating repetitive re-authentication cycles that disrupt deep analytical work.

### What regulatory and infrastructure barriers prevent consulting firms from fully adopting passkeys?

Clients in regulated industries like banking and healthcare may require legacy
authentication for compliance, as some regulators have not yet formally recognized synced
passkeys as a valid method. Older client systems may also lack the server-side updates
needed for passkey support, and cross-platform sync compatibility across multiple
consultant devices is still evolving.

### How do passkeys reduce authentication fatigue for consultants using SSO tools?

Consultants using SSO solutions like Okta or Microsoft Azure AD currently re-authenticate
via MFA push notifications each time a session expires across tools like Trello, Miro or
HR portals. A passkey-based SSO workflow replaces these repeated push confirmations with a
single local biometric check, reducing interruptions during high-pressure client work.

## 8. Final Thoughts: Passkeys will enter the Consulting World

For a field that thrives on maximizing efficiency, strategy consulting can benefit greatly
from modernizing its authentication methods. By addressing both **security needs** and
**user experience**, passkeys stand to transform the way consultants juggle multiple
logins across various environments. While legacy constraints remain, the momentum towards
**passwordless login** is growing. Consultants - who already navigate some of the tightest
timelines and highest client expectations - stand to gain significantly by championing and
adopting passkey solutions where possible.

## About the Author

**Leonhard** spent four years at **BCG TDA**, where he focused on digital transformation
and data-centric consulting engagements. He then moved to a **private equity firm**, where
he encountered similar challenges during **due diligence** phases and while **improving
operations at portfolio companies**. Drawing on these experiences, Leonhard advocates for
practical, secure solutions like **passkeys** that minimize friction and guard sensitive
data in both consulting and investment environments.