RSA announced significant enhancements to its passwordless authentication portfolio, specifically targeting the long-overlooked security risk of desktop and laptop logon in hybrid work environments. The new capabilities expand secure, passwordless access to macOS, introduce contactless tap-to-login, and provide robust offline authentication options, delivering what the company calls the broadest range of passwordless coverage from cloud to desktop to data center.
RSA introduces new passwordless solutions for securing desktop and laptop operating system logon.
New capabilities include contactless tap-to-login using NFC-enabled RSA iShield Key 2 tokens.
Passwordless logon support is now extended to macOS, alongside existing Windows support.
Enhanced offline authentication options include OTP, FIDO2, and upcoming QR code support.
The solutions address hybrid work risks and meet high-assurance requirements for government and healthcare.
All enhancements are part of the RSA ID Plus platform and its integration for Microsoft environments.
RSA's latest advancements focus on securing the initial point of access for remote and hybrid workers: the desktop operating system. The company highlights that while passwords are inherently weak for this use case, the industry has lacked robust, user-friendly alternatives. RSA's new suite of passwordless capabilities is designed to close this critical security gap, providing phishing-resistant authentication that integrates seamlessly into user workflows without compromising security.
“Desktop devices represent a significant risk given how many users work remotely,” said RSA President, Chief Product and Strategy Officer Jim Taylor. “Passwords fall short everywhere, and desktop logon is no exception. Yet most organizations are forced into using them because the industry has failed to deliver robust, user-friendly solutions. RSA’s new passwordless capabilities close this gap, going deeper than any competitor to provide secure, seamless access everywhere our customers need it.”
The enhancements introduce several new methods for passwordless desktop authentication. Users can now perform a contactless "tap and go" logon using NFC-enabled RSA iShield Key 2 hardware tokens. For environments without consistent network access, RSA has expanded offline passwordless options to include one-time passwords (OTP) and FIDO2 standards, with support for offline QR codes coming in January 2026. Additionally, RSA now provides unified passwordless logon support for macOS, extending its coverage beyond Windows. Future updates will include Bluetooth-based proximity verification for QR code logins to ensure the authenticating device is physically near the computer.
These capabilities are delivered through RSA ID Plus and its variant for Microsoft environments, providing passwordless coverage for a wide range of systems, including legacy applications, operational technology (OT), and critical infrastructure. For highly regulated industries, the RSA iShield Key 2 meets stringent standards like FIPS 140-3 and supports physical access integration via MIFARE. Furthermore, enhancements to the RSA API now allow organizations to embed passkey registration and passwordless authentication directly into custom web portals for partners and external users.
By extending passwordless authentication to the foundational layer of desktop access and supporting a wide array of environments and use cases, RSA aims to provide organizations with a comprehensive, unified identity security posture that reduces risk and simplifies management across hybrid IT landscapes.
About RSA
The AI-powered RSA Unified Identity Platform protects the world’s most secure organizations from today’s and tomorrow’s highest-risk cyberattacks. RSA provides the identity intelligence, authentication, access, governance, and lifecycle capabilities needed to prevent threats, secure access, and enable compliance. More than 9,000 security-first organizations trust RSA to manage more than 60 million identities across on-premises, hybrid, and multi-cloud environments.
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