As enterprises shift focus to passwordless security, India nears MFA saturation

According to Okta’s Secure Sign-in Trends Report 2025, Indian enterprises are approaching multi-factor authentication (MFA) saturation, with adoption rates nearing 90 percent. The report shows MFA adoption in India has reached 89.4 percent, significantly higher than the global average of 70 percent.

Data indicates that Indian organisations have established a strong baseline for identity security and continue to prioritize access protection. MFA adoption in India grew by 4.1 percentage points year-on-year, indicating that security remains a top-tier executive priority

The report also pointed to a global shift toward more advanced authentication methods, with phishing-resistant and passwordless authentication adoption increasing by 63 percent worldwide.

Okta said traditional MFA methods such as SMS and voice are increasingly vulnerable to sophisticated social engineering attacks.

The report noted that phishing-resistant authentication methods, including WebAuthn and FastPass, help address these risks while reducing sign-in friction.

According to Okta, Indian enterprises should now build on their MFA adoption by prioritising high-assurance authentication standards for sensitive access.

This includes reducing reliance on low-assurance factors such as SMS and transitioning toward passwordless authentication.

The report added that identity is becoming a foundational element of Zero Trust strategies, enabling secure access without compromising productivity.