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Passkey

What is Passkey?

A passwordless authentication credential based on the FIDO2 standard that uses public key cryptography and biometrics for secure, phishing-resistant sign-in.

Information Security

Each of these is named in at least one of the same controls as passkey. The number is how many controls name both.

What the standards actually require on passkey

Requirements naming passkey across 6 standards, quoted from the control text.

Discoverable credentials (formerly Resident Credentials) per WebAuthn L3 6.3 + CTAP2.1 are credentials whose private-key + per-credential metadata (rpId + userHandle + signCount) are stored on the authenticator.

FIDO2-Passkey-Discoverable · Passkeys (Discoverable Credentials) and Account Recovery

Kuwait NCF Protect function (Access). Access Control and Identity Management aligned with NIST SP 800-53 AC family + ISO 27001 A.9 + Zero Trust principles.

KNCF-Protect-Access-Control-IAM-Privileged-MFA-Zero-Trust-Identity-Lifecycle-IAG-PAM · Kuwait NCF Protect + Access Control + IAM + Privileged + MFA + Zero Trust + Identity Lifecycle

Implement authentication per NIST SP 800-63-4 Volume B (Authentication and Authenticator Lifecycle). Approve authenticator types per Section 4 covering (a) memorised secrets (Section 4.1), (b) look-up secrets (Section 4.2), (c) out-of-band devices (Section 4.3...

NISTSP63R4-3 · Authentication: Authenticator Types, MFA, Phishing-Resistance, and Syncable Authenticators

Where identity is established without a password, use a recognised passwordless method such as a FIDO2 authenticator or passkey, biometric, hardware security key or token, push notification or one-time code, and manage it as the authentication control for the...

CE-AC.8 · Passwordless Authentication

Questions people ask about passkey

What is Passkey?
A passwordless authentication credential based on the FIDO2 standard that uses public key cryptography and biometrics for secure, phishing-resistant sign-in.
Why is Passkey important for compliance?
Passkey is a key concept in Information Security. Understanding passkey helps organizations meet regulatory requirements, reduce risk, and demonstrate due diligence during audits. Our compliance platform maps 686 frameworks with 311K cross-framework control mappings.
Which compliance frameworks address Passkey?
Passkey appears in the requirement text of FIDO2 / WebAuthn, ITU-T X.805 - Security Architecture for End-to-End Communications, Japan FSA Cybersecurity Guidelines for Financial Institutions, Kuwait National Cybersecurity Framework, NIST SP 800-63-4. Across these standards we have identified 12 controls that name it directly, each linked to the control text on the compliance platform.
Where can I learn more about Passkey?
Explore our compliance framework pages to see how passkey applies across different standards and regulations. Our implementation guides provide step-by-step guidance, and the compliance platform offers AI-powered analysis of how this concept maps across 686 frameworks.

See how Passkey applies across compliance frameworks

Our platform maps 686 frameworks with 311K cross-framework control mappings. Explore how this concept is addressed across standards.

Written and maintained by Gerard Blokdyk, The Art of Service.