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Closing Enterprise Identity Assurance Gaps Through Combined FIDO2 and Certificate-Based Authentication Architectures

John R. Whitaker , Global Cybersecurity Institute, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Abstract

The accelerating shift toward passwordless authentication, driven by technological advances in device-bound biometrics, platform authenticators, and standardized protocols, has created both opportunity and complexity for enterprise identity assurance. This article critically examines the integration of FIDO2-based passwordless mechanisms (including passkeys and CTAP/WebAuthn paradigms) with traditional certificate-based authentication to construct a hybrid, phishing-resistant, privacy-aware, and scalable identity architecture suited to modern enterprises. Drawing strictly from the provided literature, the paper synthesizes empirical and normative findings about mobile biometric advances, behavioral biometrics, FIDO2 usability and privacy implications, certificate lifecycle management, and data-protection regulation constraints (notably GDPR). The work articulates a detailed methodology for combining FIDO2 client- and server-side flows with enterprise Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), including trust anchoring, credential lifecycle orchestration, fallback and account recovery strategies, and privacy-preserving biometric handling aligned with regulatory obligations. Results are presented as descriptive analyses of anticipated security posture improvements, usability trade-offs, and operational complexity, supported by comparative studies of FIDO2 usability and biometric misconceptions. The discussion explores theoretical implications for identity assurance, counter-arguments regarding centralization and vendor lock-in, limitations in biometric entropy and behavioral approaches, and directions for future research including decentralized identifiers and semantic design patterns for passwordless applications. The article concludes with practical recommendations for phased enterprise adoption, governance controls, and technical blueprints aimed at realizing phishing-resistant, GDPR-compliant, and user-friendly authentication in heterogeneous enterprise ecosystems. (Abstract 238 words)

Keywords

FIDO2, passkeys, certificate-based authentication, passwordless

References

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John R. Whitaker. (2025). Closing Enterprise Identity Assurance Gaps Through Combined FIDO2 and Certificate-Based Authentication Architectures. The American Journal of Interdisciplinary Innovations and Research, 7(11), 82–88. Retrieved from https://theamericanjournals.com/index.php/tajiir/article/view/6970