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Passkeys in Consulting: Solving the Login Puzzle

Consulting firms operate in some of the most security-sensitive environments in the business world. From mergers and acquisitions to strategy reports, consultants handle critical data every day - making them prime targets for cyberattacks. Yet, protecting that data often comes at the cost of convenience. Repeated logins, multi-factor authentication (MFA), VPNs, and endpoint protections slow down workflows and drain productivity.

This article explores how passkeys - a phishing-resistant, passwordless authentication method - can simplify the consulting login experience without compromising security.

Why Consultants Are High-Value Phishing Targets

Consultants regularly access privileged client information across industries like finance, healthcare, and government. Their elevated access makes them appealing targets for attackers. Phishing emails disguised as IT support or shared documents are common, and a successful breach can have long-lasting consequences - not just in revenue but in reputational damage.

An example? In 2024, Deloitte Consulting was involved in a data breach that exposed personal information of Rhode Island residents. While the financial impact was limited, the reputational risk in a trust-based business like consulting was severe.

The Security vs. Productivity Trade-off in Consulting

Most firms respond to these risks with rigorous security layers: disk encryption, MFA, and device monitoring. While effective, these measures take time. A consultant might unlock their laptop 20+ times per day, re-enter MFA codes for tools like Trello, Miro, or internal portals, and switch between client and firm environments - each with separate login credentials and policies.

The result is what’s known as “authentication fatigue” - frequent, disruptive login prompts that fragment focus and reduce output. In a field where time equals billable hours, this becomes a serious operational challenge.

Multiple Domains, Multiple Headaches

Consultants often juggle different digital identities: one for their firm, and others for each client. Moving between systems can require clearing cookies, switching browsers, or relogging into Microsoft Teams with different credentials. These repetitive transitions slow down everything from workshop prep to urgent data retrieval.

Even with Single Sign-On (SSO), session expirations and device timeouts bring users back into the loop of MFA verifications and password entry.

Passkeys: Secure Login Without the Hassle

Passkeys offer a compelling alternative. Based on public-key cryptography, they eliminate the need for shared secrets (like passwords) and can’t be phished. The private key stays on the user’s device, and authentication is performed using biometrics (Face ID, fingerprint) or a device PIN.

In practical terms:

  • Laptop logins could become one biometric tap instead of several password/MFA steps.
  • SSO portals could leverage a single passkey authentication across sessions, reducing prompt frequency.
  • Client transitions could be streamlined with passkey federation - a future where multiple domains trust the same device-based credential.

Unlike password managers, which still rely on storing secrets, passkeys replace the very idea of a password - dramatically improving both security and UX.

Where Passkeys Face Limitations

Consulting doesn’t operate in a vacuum. Clients in regulated sectors (e.g., banking, healthcare) may not yet accept passkeys due to compliance concerns. Some IT systems, especially legacy ones, don’t support modern authentication methods. And because consultants use multiple devices, passkey syncing (e.g. via iCloud Keychain or Google Password Manager) is still a work in progress.

Additionally, even though consultants are often tech-savvy, adoption still requires onboarding and habit changes.

Still, the Direction is Clear

Despite these challenges, passkeys solve many of the most frustrating pain points consultants face. They reduce login friction, lower phishing risk, and can bring real efficiency gains - especially in multi-account, multi-device environments like consulting.

As large platforms like Apple, Google, and Microsoft continue pushing passkey adoption, client systems are likely to follow. For firms that value both security and speed, now is the right time to explore where passkeys can be introduced first.