I’ve analyzed authentication economics across hundreds of enterprises, and most organizations dramatically underestimate the true cost of password-based systems. This article details a comprehensive TCO analysis for authentication, breaking down direct support, productivity loss, and security incident costs. Passwordless systems are shown to reduce annual authentication expenses by 50–65%, primarily by eliminating ~80% of help desk tickets and boosting user productivity. Initial implementation requires investment, but ROI is typically achieved within 18–24 months through operational savings.

For those who have deployed or considered passwordless, what were your biggest surprises in measuring or justifying the ROI?