When was the last time you thought about how you log in to your accounts?
Or how secure those logins really are?

If you’re like most business owners in Michigan, it’s probably not something you think about often until something goes wrong.

For decades, we’ve all relied on passwords. But let’s be honest: passwords are a pain.
They’re hard to remember, often reused, and one of the biggest security risks your firm faces.

That’s why Microsoft is taking a big step forward with passkeys and this time, it’s built right into Windows 11.

What Is a Passkey (and Why Should You Care)?

Think of a passkey as a smarter, safer replacement for your password.

Instead of typing in a word or phrase that can be guessed, stolen, or reused, a passkey uses something far more secure, your face, fingerprint, or device PIN, to verify who you are.

Behind the scenes, passkeys use advanced cryptography. There’s no single “password” stored anywhere.
Instead, one half of your passkey stays safely on your device, and the other half stays with the service you’re logging into.

They fit together like a lock and key.
But the key never leaves your pocket meaning even the best phishing email in the world can’t trick you into handing it over.

That’s the magic of passkeys: they can’t be stolen, guessed, or phished in the same way passwords can.

Why This Matters for Michigan Businesses

Passwords are one of the biggest weak points in business cybersecurity.
At Big Water Technologies, we see it all the time in accounting, legal, and medical practices across Michigan—password reuse, shared logins, and outdated password policies are still incredibly common.

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And here’s the problem:

• A typical 8-character password can be cracked in under 10 minutes by any middle school kid with a gaming computer and a few YouTube videos.

• Over 70 % of data breaches still involve stolen or weak credentials.

Passkeys solve both problems.

They don’t rely on something you know they rely on something you are (your biometrics) or something you have (your device).

That makes them a powerful step forward in protecting client data, ensuring compliance, and reducing the risk of breaches that can disrupt your firm or damage trust.

What’s Changing in Windows 11

Until now, using passkeys in Windows was clunky. You often needed third-party tools, and managing them wasn’t intuitive.

Microsoft is fixing that.

The latest Windows 11 updates introduce native passkey support making it far easier to create, store, and manage them directly on your PC.

Here’s what’s new:

• Better integration with password managers. Microsoft has partnered with password security vendors, allowing smooth passkey syncing and login management.

• Open tools for others. New APIs mean other password managers like Keeper can now integrate directly with Windows.

• Simplified login experience. You’ll be able to sign in to apps, websites, and Windows itself without ever typing a password again.

And there’s another big shift coming:
Microsoft is phasing out password storage in the Microsoft Authenticator app. Passkeys will soon become the default for Microsoft accounts and likely for your business systems, too.

How to Get Ready for a Password-Free Future

You don’t need to overhaul everything overnight. But it’s worth starting the conversation now.

Ask yourself:

• Are your employees still using shared or reused passwords?

• Do your systems and apps support passkeys or MFA?

• Do you have a plan for phasing out passwords safely?

At Big Water Tech, we’re already helping Michigan firms map out what a passkey-ready environment looks like so security improves without disrupting daily work.

Because the goal isn’t just stronger protection it’s simpler, smarter access that fits how your team already works.

Final Thought

Passkeys aren’t just a tech upgrade.
They’re part of a bigger shift toward passwordless security one that makes life easier for your team while keeping client data safer.

With Microsoft leading the charge, now’s the time to start planning your move away from passwords.

If you’d like help getting your firm ready for a password-free future or just want to understand what passkeys mean for your cybersecurity and compliance goals, let’s talk.

We’ll help you keep IT simple, secure, and ready for what’s next.