Cisco IT needed a more secure way to manage password challenges across 130,000+ users in order to mitigate potential security risks and improve employee experience.
Challenge
Passwords present a security risk, despite evolving authentication methods. As a result, Cisco began a shift towards a passwordless approach.
Passwords are easy targets and prone to phishing, causing user frustration and increased IT help desk tickets.
Cisco IT struggled to manage and enforce good password hygiene across a workforce of 130,000+.
With existing MFA protocols, passwords remained the biggest vulnerability, risking business, customer data, and innovation.
Solution
Cisco IT implemented Duo Passwordless, a user-friendly, zero trust solution to improve both security and user experience. It uses passkeys and platform authenticators, biometrics, and security keys from access devices to secure application access without passwords.
Duo Passwordless provides frictionless access with strong MFA, enabling secure access to apps and visibility into devices.
Outcomes
Frictionless experience
Protects 130,000+ Cisco employees everywhere they work with frictionless zero trust secure access and layered security.
Improved useability and productivity
Reduced required individual user actions to authenticate by 93%, requiring only one action by employees.
Enhanced security
Eliminated phishable MFA factors, allowing Cisco to identify, profile and protect every device and user.
Reduced IT Time and Costs
Lessened burden of password-related help desk tickets and password resets.
Additional insights
Improved Security and Usability
"Passwordless authentication is a considerable benefit to Cisco. Not only are we reducing the risk of credential-based attacks like phishing and credential stuffing, but employee satisfaction is high, and we're seeing broad adoption across the workforce."
Maya Mikati, Lead Change Manager
Cisco
User-centric approach
"While there is a long road ahead of a full industry shift away from passwords entirely, this has primarily been about changing the experience for our workforce today and mitigating potential future threats for our business."
Rebeca Terán, Technical Project Manager
Cisco IT Security
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