Imagine not having to remember a single password, where phishing attacks become useless, and where logging in is as simple as tapping a button or using your fingerprint. This scenario no longer belongs in the future: it is happening right now thanks to technologies such as FIDO, FIDO2 and TOTP. In an era where data breaches and credential theft cost millions, these solutions are redefining the way people and businesses protect their digital identities. This article will take you through their evolution, their differences, their advantages, and how they are transforming security in the cloud and beyond.

For years, passwords have been the key to the digital world. However, they have also become the weakest link in the security chain: reused, guessed, stolen or leaked.

• FIDO (Fast IDentity Online): 
  It is an open standard created by the FIDO Alliance to replace traditional passwords with strong authentication based on cryptographic keys. Its main focus is to eliminate reliance on shared secrets (such as passwords or SMS codes).

• FIDO2: 
  It is the evolution of the original FIDO standard, composed of two components:
  • WebAuthn (Web Authentication API): developed together with the W3C, it allows browsers and web applications to integrate passwordless authentication.
  • CTAP (Client to Authenticator Protocol): Enables communication between the browser or device and the authenticator (e.g., a YubiKey, Windows Hello, or Touch ID).

• TOTP (Time-Based One-Time Password): 
  It is a two-factor authentication (2FA) mechanism  based on temporary passwords that change every 30 seconds. It is implemented using applications such as Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator or Authy.

In short:

• TOTP strengthens traditional authentication.
• FIDO/FIDO2 eliminates the need for passwords entirely.

Year	Milestone	Description
2012	Creation of the FIDO Alliance	Founded by companies like PayPal, Lenovo, and Nok Nok Labs to standardize passwordless authentication.
2014	FIDO UAF and U2F	The first protocols were born. UAF (Universal Authentication Framework) for passwordless authentication; U2F (Universal 2nd Factor) as a second safe factor.
2017-2018	FIDO2 and WebAuthn	FIDO2 is launched with the support of the W3C and major browsers (Chrome, Edge, Firefox).
2020-2024	Passwordless Adoption	Microsoft, Google, Apple, and others are beginning to implement passwordless authentication in bulk.
2025 and beyond	Unified ecosystem	FIDO2 becomes the dominant standard for secure access in enterprises and end users.

Guy	Featured Suppliers
FIDO/FIDO2 Authenticators	Yubico (YubiKey), Feitian, SoloKeys, Google Titan, Thetis, Kensington
Operating Systems with native support	Windows Hello, macOS/iOS (Touch ID / Face ID), Android, ChromeOS
Clouds and corporate identities	Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD), Okta, Ping Identity, Duo Security, Google Workspace
Apps TOTP	Google Authenticator, Authy, Microsoft Authenticator, Bitwarden, 1Password

• Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD): Native support for FIDO2 and Windows Hello keys. It allows you to delete passwords in corporate login and Office 365.
• Google Workspace: FIDO2 and TOTP supported. It allows you to register security keys or authentication with your mobile device.
• AWS IAM Identity Center: Allows you to integrate FIDO2 as an MFA method without relying on SMS codes.
• Okta and Ping Identity: Offer adaptive authentication flows with support for FIDO2, biometrics, and TOTP in a single ecosystem.

An employee signs in to Microsoft 365 from their laptop. Instead of typing in a password, use Windows Hello (based on FIDO2) or a YubiKey key. If you require a second factor, you can use TOTP from your Authenticator app.

Technology	Guy	Do you use passwords?	Security level	Ease of use	Requires hardware
Traditional password	1FA	Yes	Casualty	Stocking	No
TOTP (2FA)	2FA	Yes	Medium-High	Stocking	No
SMS / Email OTP	2FA	Yes	Stocking	Loud	No
FIDO U2F (2FA)	2FA	No (public/private key)	Loud	Loud	Yes
FIDO2 (Passwordless)	1FA or 2FA	No	Very high	Very high	Optional
Local biometrics (Touch ID, Face ID)	1FA	No	Loud	Very high	No (if integrated)

FIDO2 combines the security of asymmetric cryptography with the convenience of biometric or hardware authentication, leaving behind the weaknesses of the password model.

1. Passwordless security: Eliminate phishing, keylogging and credential theft.
2. Public-key cryptography: Private keys never leave the user’s device.
3. Seamless user experience: Fast, biometric, or one-touch authentication.
4. Universal compatibility: Adopted by all major browsers, systems, and clouds.
5. Enhanced privacy: Servers don’t store reusable secrets.
6. Enterprise scalability: Easy to integrate into hybrid or multi-cloud corporate environments.

• Passwordless corporate access: 
  Companies that deploy FIDO2 with Entra ID or Okta for employees to access internal and SaaS systems with biometrics or security keys.
• Critical account protection:
   Infrastructure administrators, DevOps, or cybersecurity teams that use FIDO2 or U2F keys to protect access to cloud consoles (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• End-user authentication: 
  Banks and fintechs that replace SMS OTP with TOTP or FIDO2, reducing SIM swapping fraud.
• Hybrid or remote access:
   Employees who securely authenticate to VPNs or virtual desktops (VDI) using FIDO physical keys or biometric authenticators.

The combination of FIDO2 and TOTP marks a transition to a more secure, more private and simpler identity model.

While TOTP remains a necessary intermediate step, FIDO2 is the ultimate destination: passwordless authentication, resistant to phishing and compatible with the global digital ecosystem.

Change is already underway: companies that adopt FIDO2 today will be one step ahead in the future of cybersecurity.

Thanks for reading me!!!