Technology Trends
Password-free yet secure: Passkeys/FIDO/SSO for temporary users and loaner devices
Password-free yet secure: Passkeys, FIDO, and SSO for temporary users and loaner devices
Temporary user accounts, shared rental smartphones, project tablets, event iPhones, trade show laptops, and rugged devices provided on short notice have long been part of everyday business life. At the same time, requirements for security, data protection, and user-friendliness are on the rise. This is precisely where the topic of passkeys for loaner devices becomes highly relevant. That’s because traditional passwords are often the biggest vulnerability on shared or temporarily used devices: they are passed on, written down, reused, or simply forgotten to be removed after the device is returned.
Modern passwordless methods based on passkeys, FIDO, and single sign-on will offer a significantly more robust alternative in 2026. They reduce phishing risks, simplify the login process, and are ideally suited for scenarios involving temporary users, external teams, service providers, training sessions, trade shows, rollouts, or rented equipment within the company.
This offers a clear advantage, especially for companies that need mobile devices only for a limited period of time: By using rental services instead of maintaining them permanently, companies can configure modern authentication concepts specifically for each deployment and reset them completely once the project is complete. This reduces the workload on the IT department, enhances security, and improves the user experience from the moment the device is first turned on.
Why Passwords Become a Problem with Rented Devices
With permanently assigned devices, password management can be controlled to some extent through policies, password managers, and training. With loaner devices and temporary users, the reality is quite different. Devices change hands more frequently, users need quick access, and time constraints and a smooth handover are often the top priorities.
In such environments, typical risks arise:
- Passwords are shared with coworkers, external partners, or event staff
- Login credentials are accidentally left stored on devices after they are returned
- One-time accounts are created without adequate lifecycle management
- Phishing attacks particularly often target temporary users who have received little training
- Support tickets for password resets cause unnecessary effort and costs
In addition, many temporary assignments take place outside the usual corporate environment. Examples include field operations, conferences, pop-up stores, training centers, film productions, healthcare projects, logistics peaks, or seasonal staffing needs. In all these cases, users must be able to get to work quickly without compromising safety.
What Makes Passkeys So Relevant in 2026
In recent years, passkeys have established themselves as a practical and widely supported method for passwordless login. Technically, they are based on standards set by the FIDO Alliance and the World Wide Web Consortium. Instead of a password, a cryptographic key pair is used. The private key remains securely stored on the device or in a secure authenticator, while the public key is stored with the service.
The big advantage: There is no longer a traditional password that can be guessed, stolen, or entered on a phishing site. Logging in is done, for example, via biometric authentication, a PIN, or device-specific security mechanisms.
When it comes to passkeys for rental devices, it is particularly important that companies be able to implement different deployment models. Passkeys do not necessarily have to be permanently stored on the rental device itself. Depending on the setup, they can be linked to user identities, hardware security keys, platform authenticators, or mobile identity solutions. This also makes it possible to accommodate scenarios in which the device is in use for only a few days or weeks.
FIDO, Passkeys, and SSO: What Goes Together?
These terms are often used interchangeably in everyday language, but each has its own distinct role.
| Term | Meaning | Benefits for Rental Equipment |
|---|---|---|
| FIDO | Open standards for strong, phishing-resistant authentication | Enables secure logins without traditional passwords |
| Passkeys | User-friendly implementation of FIDO-based authentication with key pairs | Reduces support costs and enhances security for temporary users |
| SSO | Single Sign-On for accessing multiple applications with a single identity | Fewer login steps and centralized management of access rights |
| MDM or UEM | Management and Security of Mobile Devices | Important for provisioning, policies, and resetting leased devices |
In practice, this combination is particularly effective. SSO consolidates application access, FIDO and passkeys secure the login process, and device management ensures that the loaner device is properly set up, monitored, and wiped upon return.
Typical use cases for passkeys on loaner devices
Use cases are particularly diverse in the B2B environment. Today, companies no longer need a one-size-fits-all solution, but rather flexible models tailored to the duration of use, user role, and data sensitivity.
Typical scenarios include, for example, project-based smartphone rentals for external teams, tablets on a short-notice rental basis for training sessions, event devices with restricted roles, rented Apple iPhones for VIP support, Android devices for inventory and logistics, or laptops for temporary employees during peak periods.
Passwordless login offers several advantages in this context. Users can get started more quickly. The IT department has fewer password reset requests to handle. Access can be revoked centrally. And once the project is complete, devices can be reliably reset, provisioned, and deployed for their next assignment.
Which deployment models are suitable for temporary users
Not every passwordless solution is automatically suitable for every rental scenario. The key factor is whether the identity is tied to the user, the device, or a separate authenticator.
In practice, these models in particular have proven their worth in 2026:
- Platform-based passkeys on the device
Suitable for personally assigned loaner devices for a limited period, such as for project managers or trainers. It is important to perform a clean device reset after the device is returned. - Passkeys via hardware security keys
Recommended for external staff, particularly sensitive access scenarios, or frequently changing devices. The user authenticates with a separate FIDO token that does not remain on the loaned device. - SSO with passwordless primary login and short-lived sessions
Ideal for shared devices, kiosk modes, or shift work. Identities are managed centrally, and sessions expire in a controlled manner.
Which option is best depends on several factors: the duration of the rental, the sensitivity of the applications, offline requirements, the number of users per device, the users’ level of training, and the integration status of the existing IAM landscape.
Security on rental devices involves more than just logging in
Even though passkeys and FIDO offer very strong protection against phishing and credential theft, security doesn’t end with the authentication process. For loaner devices, it’s always the overall model—comprising identity, device, policies, and the return process—that matters.
Key security components include, among others, consistent MDM or UEM management, container or work profile separation, remote lockout, automatic wipe routines, compliance checks, app approvals based on role, and documented deprovisioning.
The return phase is particularly critical in the rental business. Companies should ensure that absolutely no user accounts, sessions, or residual local data remain on the device. Professionally prepared rental devices can be a real advantage here because provisioning and return are handled in a standardized manner.
Why SSO Is Often Underestimated for Temporary Users
When it comes to passwordless authentication, many companies focus first on the login process itself. But just as important is the question of how users access applications afterward. If thirty apps each require their own login, even a secure start becomes unnecessarily complicated.
SSO significantly reduces this complexity. After a secure, password-less login, temporary users gain access to the systems authorized for them without having to enter new login credentials for each application. This reduces friction in usage while also minimizing the risk of workarounds involving shared passwords.
From a governance perspective, SSO is also attractive for loaner devices. Permissions can be granted and revoked centrally. Roles for event staff, support personnel, technicians, training participants, or external auditors can be defined in advance. After the assignment, access is revoked not only on the device but also at the identity level.
Usability Is the Key to Success
Even the best security architecture is of little use if users don’t accept it. This is exactly where passkeys really shine. For many users, logging in using biometrics, a device PIN, or a hardware key is much easier than remembering complex passwords or juggling SMS codes and authenticator apps.
This is especially important for temporary users. These individuals often do not work with the client’s internal systems on a daily basis and have little time for training. An intuitive, fast, and consistent login process reduces errors, shortens onboarding times, and improves productivity right from the start.
This provides added value for companies in the mobile device rental sector. Preconfigured devices with seamless enrollment, role-based apps, and a well-coordinated login process can be offered as a genuine service advantage. Customers aren’t just looking for hardware—they want a secure solution that’s ready to use right away.
Passkeys for Loaner Devices in Conjunction with Device Management
For passwordless authentication to work reliably on leased devices, professional device management is required. By 2026, modern UEM and MDM platforms will support, among other things, zero-touch deployment, automated policies, certificate management, app configuration, kiosk modes, and selective or full wipe.
This is helpful in several ways, especially when it comes to rental equipment:
- Before deployment: Devices are preconfigured, registered, and assigned the appropriate roles
- During deployment: Compliance, updates, and access are monitored
- After deployment ends: Data, accounts, and local bindings are automatically removed
Anyone who regularly needs large quantities of iPhones, iPads, Android smartphones, tablets, or laptops for projects can benefit from a standardized combination of rental devices, MDM, SSO, and passwordless login. This speeds up rollouts and significantly reduces operational risks.
What Companies Should Keep in Mind During Implementation
The best way to implement passkeys for temporary users is to consider not just authentication, but the entire user lifecycle. This includes identity verification, provisioning, role models, sessions, offboarding, and device cleanup.
The following questions are particularly relevant:
Who is authorized to register a passkey, and how is the user’s identity initially verified? Where is the passkey stored, and how is it prevented from accidentally remaining on a shared device? How are devices locked if they are lost or returned late? Which applications are already FIDO- or SSO-compatible, and where are interim solutions needed? And finally: How is the return process documented and conducted in an audit-proof manner?
Companies that use mobile device rentals should therefore not only ask about hardware specifications, but also about services related to configuration, enrollment, security policies, user roles, and data deletion. This is a crucial factor, especially in sensitive industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, finance, public administration, and consulting.
Why Rental Offers Strategic Advantages for Temporary Rollouts
If devices are needed for only a few weeks or a few months, purchasing them is often not the best solution, either from a cost or organizational perspective. This is especially true when security and provisioning requirements are high. A rental model allows you to use modern devices for the duration of the project while ensuring compliance with current security standards.
For customers in the B2B sector, this means they can request exactly the type of device that suits their specific use case—from smartphones and tablets to laptops or specialized devices. Ideally, these devices are delivered preconfigured, connected via MDM, equipped with the necessary apps, and set up for password-free access.
Depending on the use case, the choice of device model can also be a strategic decision. For mobile teams with high display requirements, renting an iPhone 15 Pro Max may be a good option, while for standardized rollouts, renting an iPhone 15 often provides the right balance of performance, ease of use, and the latest security platform.
When it comes to tablets, it’s also worth choosing one that’s precisely tailored to the intended use. For training sessions, presentations, or forms in the field, rental of a Galaxy Tab S9 can be a compact and secure solution. If more screen space is needed for dashboards, checklists, or teamwork, rental of a Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Plus offers additional flexibility.
For temporary workstations that require laptops, lightweight, high-performance devices are also an important factor. Those who need to equip field staff, management, project managers, or event back-office teams can, for example, use rental services for a MacBook Air 15 M2 and integrate it directly into existing SSO and Passkey systems.
Instead of having to procure hardware in-house under time pressure, set it up manually, and collect it again once the project is over, companies receive a scalable, one-stop solution. This is particularly helpful for trade shows, training sessions, rollouts, field assignments, seasonal peaks, audits, or international project teams.
FAQ
What exactly are passkeys?
Passkeys are a passwordless login method based on cryptographic keys. They replace traditional passwords and offer better protection against phishing and data theft.
Are passkeys also suitable for shared, rented devices?
Yes, but the model must be chosen carefully. For shared devices, centralized SSO solutions, short-lived sessions, or external hardware authenticators are often more suitable than user bindings that are permanently stored locally.
What is the difference between passkeys and MFA with a password?
With passkeys, the password is no longer the primary target of an attack. This usually makes logging in easier and more secure than traditional combinations of a password and an additional factor.
What role does SSO play for temporary users?
SSO makes it easier to access multiple applications using a single, centralized identity. This is ideal for temporary users because it requires fewer logins and allows permissions to be managed centrally.
How can you ensure that no data remains on a leased device after it is returned?
Through professional MDM, defined offboarding processes, remote wipe, session termination, and a full device reset before the next use.
Can a rental partner securely preconfigure devices in advance?
Yes. This is a major advantage, especially in the B2B environment. Preconfigured rental devices—complete with enrollment, app setup, and tailored security policies—significantly speed up the rollout process.
Conclusion
By 2026, passkeys for loaner devices will no longer be a niche topic but a logical component of modern enterprise security. Whenever devices are used temporarily, issued to external personnel, or rolled out in large numbers over a short period of time, traditional passwords reach their limits. Passkeys, FIDO standards, and SSO provide a secure, user-friendly, and scalable alternative.
What matters here is not just the login method itself, but the interplay between identity management, device management, and a well-defined lifecycle process. Companies that offer mobile device rentals have the opportunity to set up these components in a structured way from the very beginning and significantly simplify rollouts.
If you want to efficiently and securely support temporary projects, events, training sessions, or periods of high staff demand, you should consider not only the quantity and model but also authentication when making your next device request. Preconfigured, professionally managed rental devices with password-free access solutions provide a real advantage in terms of security, speed, and operation.
If your company needs smartphones, tablets, or other mobile devices with secure preconfiguration for temporary use, it’s worth inquiring about a suitable solution early on. This turns a simple hardware rental into a productive, secure, and ready-to-use business service.
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