How do passkeys align with standards like NIST or ISO?

How Do Passkeys Align with Security Standards Like NIST or ISO?#

Passkeys are designed to comply with leading security standards such as NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) and ISO (International Organization for Standardization). They offer robust security features that align with the requirements of these frameworks, ensuring organizations can meet compliance while enhancing their authentication systems.

Alignment with NIST Guidelines#

1. Phishing-Resistant MFA:

   • NIST SP 800-63B emphasizes the importance of phishing-resistant authentication methods.
   • Passkeys use public-key cryptography, making them resistant to phishing attacks, credential stuffing, and replay attacks.

2. Secure Key Storage:

   • NIST recommends hardware-backed key storage for cryptographic material.
   • Passkeys are stored in secure elements like TPMs or platform authenticators, ensuring high security.

3. Authentication Assurance Levels: Passkeys meet NIST’s AAL3, the highest assurance level for authentication, which is required for sensitive systems.

Alignment with ISO Standards#

1. Data Security (ISO/IEC 27001): Passkeys support compliance with ISO 27001 by ensuring encryption, secure communication, and robust access controls.

2. Zero-Trust Principles: ISO 27701 emphasizes privacy and minimal data exposure. Passkeys adhere to this by not requiring shared secrets like passwords.

3. Interoperability: Passkeys align with ISO’s focus on interoperability by being based on the WebAuthn standard, which is globally accepted.

Why Passkeys Are a Secure Choice#

• They eliminate the risks associated with password-based systems.
• Passkeys align with the latest security standards, ensuring compliance without compromising user experience.
• Organizations adopting passkeys can demonstrate adherence to global security best practices, making them suitable for high-stakes environments.

By leveraging passkeys, businesses can confidently align with NIST and ISO standards while providing a secure and user-friendly authentication experience.

Read the full article#

About Corbado

Corbado is the Passkey Intelligence Platform for CIAM teams running consumer authentication at scale. We help you see what IDP logs and generic analytics tools can't: which devices, OS versions, browsers and credential managers support passkeys, why enrollments don't turn into logins, where the WebAuthn flow fails and when an OS / browser update silently breaks login, all without replacing Okta, Auth0, Ping, Cognito or your in-house IDP. Two products: Corbado Observe layers observability for passkeys and any other login method. 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 →