Financial Services
Passwordless Authentication Rollout
Modern Identity Transformation for Financial Services
Duration
3 months
Team
2 specialists
Locations
USA
Scope
Identity Modernization & Conditional Access
Project Overview
A financial services company partnered with Spherium Inc. to modernize its authentication framework and eliminate password-based risks.
The engagement focused on deploying passwordless technologies across Microsoft Entra ID, integrating strong Conditional Access policies, and improving user experience through seamless sign-in with Microsoft Authenticator and passkeys.
The project successfully transitioned the client’s workforce to passwordless authentication, significantly reducing credential phishing incidents while improving access speed and security compliance.
Challenge
The client faced persistent credential phishing attempts targeting privileged users. Password resets were frequent, MFA adoption was inconsistent, and legacy authentication protocols increased the attack surface.
They needed a secure, user-friendly authentication model aligned with Zero Trust principles and regulatory requirements.
Technologies Implemented
Microsoft Entra ID Conditional Access
MFA Strength Enforcement
Entra ID Identity Protection
Microsoft Authenticator
Passwordless Sign-in with Passkeys
Solution Architecture
Phase 1: Assessment & Planning
Conducted a detailed audit of identity management and sign-in logs to identify weak authentication patterns and legacy protocols.
Defined the roadmap for migrating to passwordless sign-in, including pilot user groups and compliance alignment.
Phase 2: Implementation
Deployed Microsoft Entra ID passwordless authentication using Microsoft Authenticator.
Integrated Conditional Access policies enforcing strong MFA requirements and adaptive risk-based access controls.
Phase 3: Validation & Optimization
Monitored sign-in success rates, user adoption metrics, and authentication anomalies.
Enabled Identity Protection risk policies and automated remediation workflows to prevent credential-based compromise.
Results & Impact
Passwordless Adoption
100%
in pilot group within 3 months
Credential Phishing Incidents
0
post-rollout