Passwords in a Passwordless World: How FIDO Tokens and MFA Offer a Solution Enhancing Security and Usability for Shared Kiosk Environments

As more factories modernize, secure and efficient authentication directly impacts safety, uptime, and frontline productivity.

Front-line factory workers play a crucial role in manufacturing and production environments, often relying on shared kiosks to access essential digital tools and resources. These kiosks are typically used by multiple employees across different shifts, creating unique challenges when it comes to password management and security.

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Why this matters: Weak authentication increases safety and operational risk and drives helpdesk volume. Improving access methods reduces friction for frontline workers while delivering measurable productivity and cost benefits for the business.

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The Password Problem in Shared Kiosk Environments

Traditional password-based authentication is problematic in shared kiosk scenarios. Workers are frequently required to remember complex passwords, which can lead to frustration, increased support calls for resets, and risky behaviors like writing passwords down or sharing credentials. The shared nature of kiosks also increases the risk of unauthorized access, especially when sessions are not properly closed between users.

These challenges create friction for frontline employees and operational inefficiencies for IT teams—slowing work, increasing downtime, and introducing avoidable security risk.

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The Risks of Weak Authentication

Weak or reused passwords can be easily compromised, potentially exposing sensitive company data or allowing malicious actors to disrupt operations. In environments where uptime, safety, and compliance are critical, these vulnerabilities are unacceptable.

Beyond security risk, password-based access models often struggle to scale—especially as organizations grow, add locations, or onboard seasonal and contract workers

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How FIDO Tokens and MFA Provide a Solution

FIDO (Fast Identity Online) tokens offer a modern, passwordless approach designed for shared, high-traffic environments like factory floors. By using hardware-based authentication, workers can securely access kiosks without entering traditional passwords.

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) further strengthens security by verifying something the worker has (the FIDO token) and, optionally, something they know or are (such as a PIN or biometric).

This approach eliminates shared secrets, reduces dependency on passwords, and delivers a faster, more consistent sign-in experience—without increasing complexity for end users.

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Business Outcomes of Passwordless Access

Rather than focusing on technical mechanics, organizations see tangible business benefits when moving to FIDO-based authentication:

• Reduce password-related friction and support requests by enabling passwordless access with FIDO security keys.

• Improve security posture by eliminating shared secrets while keeping the user experience simple.

• Deliver a modern authentication experience that scales as the organization grows—without increasing complexity.

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A Practical, Measurable Implementation Approach

A successful rollout doesn’t have to be disruptive. Many organizations start with a focused pilot in a shared kiosk environment and expand as adoption grows.

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Success can be measured through outcomes such as:

• Reduced downtime caused by login or access issues

• Improved employee productivity due to simpler sign-in

• Faster onboarding and offboarding without password coordination

• Consistent access experience across devices and locations

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“Success is measured by adoption, reduced password risk, fewer support issues, and a smoother user experience—without adding complexity.”

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Implementation Support

For teams looking to design or scale a passwordless authentication pilot, our Identity and Access Management practice can help architect secure, scalable deployments tailored to frontline environments.
👉 https://www.collectiveinsights.com/identity-access-management

Conclusion

As factories continue to digitize and rely on shared kiosks for daily operations, addressing the limitations of password-based access is essential. FIDO tokens and MFA provide a secure, user-friendly alternative that supports frontline productivity while protecting critical systems.

By starting with a phased approach and focusing on adoption and operational outcomes, organizations can modernize authentication in a way that balances security, usability, and scalability—without disrupting operations.

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