Building a Passwordless Authentication Proof of Concept

The login prompt blinked on the screen. No password field. No secret to type. Just a fast, clean way in.

A passwordless authentication proof of concept shows what’s possible when credentials move beyond shared secrets. Instead of storing and verifying passwords, the system relies on secure public-key pairs, biometric factors, or magic links. The proof of concept exists to test feasibility, confirm security properties, and prove integration paths before committing to full deployment.

The first step is choosing the authentication method. Common options for passwordless POCs include WebAuthn-based keys, FIDO2 hardware devices, one-time codes over email or SMS, and cryptographic tokens managed in the browser. Selection should depend on threat model, application surface, and compliance requirements.

Integration comes next. The proof of concept must wire identity providers, backend APIs, and frontend code without breaking existing user flows. The implementation should test multi-device enrollment, credential recovery, and fallback logic. Code should log all authentication events with timestamp and context to validate audit readiness.

Security validation is not optional. Run penetration tests against the POC to catch replay attacks, man-in-the-middle attempts, and improper session handling. Test with both genuine and malicious clients. Confirm that cryptographic operations happen in secure contexts and that keys never leave the trusted hardware or browser enclave.

Performance matters. Measure login latency, credential registration speed, and error recovery time. Passwordless systems can outperform traditional username-password flows if built and tuned correctly. The proof of concept should surface bottlenecks early.

Finally, evaluate developer ergonomics and infrastructure costs. The POC should prove that deploying passwordless authentication will not add undue complexity for feature teams or operations.

A true passwordless authentication proof of concept is not a demo—it is a working slice of the production vision. Build it with the same care you would ship to real users, because the insights will shape your launch plan.

See a running passwordless authentication proof of concept in minutes—visit hoop.dev and watch it work.