Windows 11 Just Made Passkeys Real. 1Password and Bitwarden Now Fully Supported

This Week in IT

This Week in IT

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Windows 11 just unlocked full passkey support with 1Password and Bitwarden, meaning passwordless is about to get a lot more real. At the same time, Microsoft is pushing a security overhaul across Windows and Surface, claiming the work of 34,000 engineers. And Intune admins are getting new tools to diagnose failed enrollments and eliminate local admin access.

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Episode overview

The top stories in this week’s episode:

  • Windows 11 Passkey Support Expansion
    • Windows 11 now offers full passkey support with popular password managers like 1Password and Bitwarden, making passwordless authentication more practical for organizations.
    • Passkeys can be created, stored, and managed in Microsoft’s password manager, 1Password, or Bitwarden, giving users flexibility and choice.
    • Passkey functionality extends beyond browsers (like Edge) to any application using Windows Hello, allowing login via PIN or biometrics (fingerprint, face ID).
  • Enterprise Security Initiatives
    • Microsoft is rolling out a major security overhaul across Windows and Surface devices, with 34,000 engineers dedicated to security improvements.
    • New features include administration protection (preview), memory integrity, smart app control, and secure boot pathways, aiming to make Windows 11 more secure out of the box.
    • Surface device firmware and drivers are now programmed in memory-safe Rust, reducing vulnerabilities.
  • Intune Updates for IT Admins
    • Intune receives new tools for diagnosing failed device enrollments and eliminating local admin access.
    • Temporary elevation privileges can now be managed, and a dashboard visualizes privilege use across organizations.
    • Improvements for autopilot and Android device enrollment reporting, plus backend migration to Azure Front Door for better uptime (with a note to review firewall rules).
  • Upcoming Microsoft Ignite Event
    • Microsoft is previewing security features ahead of the Ignite conference, with a focus on Windows 11 security to encourage migration from Windows 10.
    • Announcements include a streamlined machine recovery tool for remote device fixes and enhancements to smart app control (now toggleable without a clean OS install).