Highlights:

  • In 2021, more than 80% of web application attacks involved stolen credentials.
  • The last time Descope made headlines was in February when it raised USD 53 million in funding to support app developers in integrating passwordless authentication.

Descope Inc., a provider of passwordless authentication service, unveiled new features that enable developers to integrate passkeys into their already-existing applications.

An alternative to the conventional username and password strategy for authentication is the adoption of passkeys. They use distinctive and challenging-to-copy traits such as fingerprints, facial scans, or personal identifying numbers.

According to Descope, passwords are problematic for both security and usability because people have a hard time remembering them while hackers can easily brute force them. Since users frequently reuse passwords across websites, credential-stuffing attacks are increasing.

In 2021, more than 80% of web application attacks involved stolen credentials. The user experience is also said to be harmed by the cognitive burden that password-based authentication causes, leading to excess retention and acquisition costs and declining number of customers.

Customers utilizing identity providers such as Amazon Cognito and Auth0 Inc. are now able to add passkeys and other passwordless methods to their authentication flows due to new Descope enhancements. This is accomplished by adding Descope as an OpenID Connect agent, which can be done quickly and easily.

Customers benefit from the modifications because onboarding has become simpler and accounts from different authentication methods can be combined, leading to enhanced user experience. By making return logins accessible and preventing churn brought on by forgotten passwords, the company claims to enhance retention.

With just a few lines of code, Descope also enables app developers to add passwordless authentication capabilities to their creations. The company affirms that by removing the burden of authentication through its drag-and-drop workflows, software development kits, and application processing interfaces, apps can be launched faster and more securely than earlier.

Speaking of the Passkeys’ benefits, Slavik Markovich, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Descope said, “They are virtually unphishable and make the process much easier for end users.”

“With continued support for passkeys from Google, Apple and Microsoft, user familiarity and adoption will increase in the months to come. Our goal with these product enhancements is to reduce friction for any developers looking to add passkeys to their apps,” Markovich added.

The last time Descope made headlines was in February when it raised USD 53 million in funding to support app developers in integrating passwordless authentication. Investors backing the company include GGV Capital LLC, Lightspeed Venture Partners LLC, TechAviv Founder Partners LP, J Ventures, and Circa Capital Corp among others.