What are the differences between self-developed and third-party authentication systems in passkey adoption?

When adopting passkeys for user authentication, organizations must choose between self-developed systems and third-party authentication providers. Each approach has distinct advantages and challenges, which are outlined below:

Advantages:

• Complete Control: You can tailor the system to meet specific needs, including advanced security features and seamless integration of passkeys.
• Flexibility: Self-developed systems allow for customization of user flows and interface elements without relying on external roadmaps.
• Data Privacy: All user authentication data remains in-house, reducing reliance on external vendors.

Challenges:

• Development Cost: Building and maintaining a custom system requires significant time, budget, and expertise.
• Technical Complexity: Passkeys require adherence to WebAuthn standards, which involve advanced cryptographic protocols and device compatibility considerations. Also updates occur frequently which need to be incorporated
• Ongoing Maintenance: Ensuring the system stays updated with new security standards and features can be resource-intensive.

Advantages:

• Quick Implementation: Providers like Keycloak, Corbado or Amazon Cognito offer out-of-the-box solutions for passkey support.
• Lower Upfront Costs: Leveraging existing infrastructure reduces the need for significant development efforts.
• Scalability: These systems are built to handle large-scale deployments and ensure compliance with global standards.

Challenges:

• Limited Customization: Dependence on the provider’s roadmap can restrict flexibility in implementing unique features.
• Vendor Lock-In: Migrating away from a third-party system can be challenging and costly.
• Privacy Concerns: Sensitive user data is often processed by external servers, requiring careful vetting of the provider’s compliance and security measures.

The choice depends on your organization’s priorities. If customization and data control are critical, a self-developed system might be the better fit. However, if speed and scalability are the main concerns, third-party providers offer a streamlined path to integrating passkeys.

For enterprises with hybrid setups, combining self-developed systems with third-party components can offer a balanced approach.