Microsoft announced an authentication process update for its users by the end of April 2025

April 2025

Microsoft has announced a major update to its account sign-up and sign-in experience to more than one billion users worldwide. Most Microsoft account holders will see the changes by the end of April 2025, with the main goal of the update being to simplify the design and authentication process.

Microsoft is continuing its move away from passwords in favor of passkeys, in line with the general trend of combating cyber threats among leading technology companies. While the option to sign in with a password will remain, the redesigned sign-in and sign-up user experience (UX) will emphasize passwordless access to accounts.

In December 2024, Microsoft declared the end of the password era due to its vulnerability and the rapidly increasing number of cyberattacks. The company reported blocking about 7,000 password attacks per second in 2024 – twice as many as the previous year. Cybercriminals also increased the number of phishing attacks by 146% compared to 2023.

That’s why Microsoft has set a goal to fully transition to passkeys, which are not vulnerable to the same types of attacks as traditional passwords, significantly reducing the risk of phishing and account breaches. In addition, passkeys are a much more convenient authentication method: facial recognition, fingerprint scanning or entering a PIN makes the signing-in process up to three times faster than using standard passwords.

If you are looking for a partner for the implementation and support of Microsoft solutions or want to learn more about how to protect your company’s data in the face of constantly growing cyber threats, contact us at: +38 044 490 22 20 or email: info@innoware.com