Goodbye Passwords: How Signicat Passkeys are redefining secure login

We’ve interviewed someone who is really excited about this stuff:
Simone Andersson, Senior Product Manager in Signicat’s Authentication and Wallet Tribe and one of the brains behind bringing Passkeys to the Signicat identity platform.

Passkeys have been called:

• “The beginning of the end of passwords”
• “The future of login”
• “The best thing since FaceID”

But for what is Passkey authentication really good? Why are tech giants betting their future on it? And how does it fit into Signicat’s ever-growing portfolio of authentication methods, from eIDs to MobileID and beyond?

We asked Simone all the questions, so you don’t have to.

Simone, let’s start with the basics: 

Q: What makes Passkeys so exciting that Signicat decided to offer them?

Passkeys feel like the moment when authentication finally catches up with how people actually use technology today, combining great security with great user experience. For us, Passkeys aren’t just another method, they complete the Signicat authentication picture.

Q: Everyone talks about “passwordless,” but Passkeys are more than a buzzword. How would you explain what they actually do — without too much detail?

Think of Passkeys as the modern way to log in using who you are, not something you need to memorise. Instead of typing passwords or waiting for codes, your device simply confirms it’s really you using your face or fingerprint. Behind the scenes, a secure key stored on your device signs you in — but you never see that part. That’s what makes them so much more than a buzzword, they make authentication feel effortless.

Q: There’s a lot of talk about “keys” in Passkeys. For someone who’s not technical — what are these keys and how do they actually work?

Think of Passkeys as a digital lock-and-key system. Your device keeps a private key — your secret key — safely stored and securely synced across all your devices. Signicat holds the public key, which can verify but never unlock anything.

Q:  All of this sounds simple for the user — but there is some cryptographic magic happening behind the scenes, right?

Every Passkey login is basically a cryptographic handshake. Your device signs a one-time challenge using your private key and Signicat checks it with the matching public key. Only the real private key can create that signature, so we know the login is genuine without sharing any secrets.

Q:  Signicat already supports other authentication methods such as MobileID and eID Hub, so what role do Passkeys play in this mix?

Passkeys don’t replace what Signicat already offers — they complete it. They’re perfect for businesses that want authentication without relying on a national eID, businesses that rely on browser-based user authentication instead of mobile apps, or businesses who are ready to drop passwords altogether. 

Q:  For businesses, what’s the real reason to care about Passkeys and what problems do they solve that other methods don’t?

Unlike other methods, Passkeys don’t rely on a specific national eID or a dedicated app, they’re global, built-in and ready to use wherever your customers are. Basically, driving happier users, smoother authentication journeys and better business results.

Q:  How easy is it for companies to add Passkeys to their existing Signicat solutions?

Extremely easy — that’s the whole point. Passkeys plug straight into the Signicat platform just like any other authentication method. No need to redesign your login journey or build new infrastructure.

Q: What’s the relationship between Passkeys and ReuseID? 

Passkeys are simply one of the authentication methods available inside ReuseID. ReuseID stores the user’s verified digital identity and Passkeys offer a fast, passwordless way for users to authenticate to it.

Q:  Can Passkeys really make onboarding and login smoother and what does that look like in practice?

Yes, Passkeys make both onboarding and login noticeably smoother because they remove the usual friction points. That simplicity leads to higher completion rates, fewer support requests and a login experience that feels modern instead of frustrating.

Q: What would you say to businesses still unsure about adding Passkeys from Signicat?

Signicat is all about trust and security, so adopting Passkeys with us is a safe and natural next step. They plug straight into the platform you already rely on, giving you a smoother, phishing-resistant login option. The question isn’t why Passkeys — it’s why not?