Windows Hello is a two-factor biometric authentication mechanism built into Windows 11, and it is unique to the device on which it is set up. Windows hello enables users to unlock their devices using facial recognition, fingerprint scanning, or a pin.
Windows Hello for Business is the enterprise implentation of Windows Hello and enables users to authenticate to an AD Ds or Entra ID account, and it allows them to access network resources. Administrators can configure Windows Hello for Business using Group Policy or mobile device management (MDM) policy and use asymmetric (public/private key) or certifcate-based authentication.
Windows Hello provides the following benefits:
- Strong passwords can be difficult to remember, and users often reuse them on multiple sites, reducing security. Windows Hello enables to authenticate using their biometric data.
- Passwords are vulnerable to replay attacks, and server breaches can expose password based credentials
- Passwords offer less security becauser users can inadvertently expose their passwords because of phising attacks.
- Windows Hello helps protect against credential theft. Because a malicious person must have both the device and the biometric information or PIN, it becomes more difficult to hack the authentication process.
- Windows hello can be used both in cloud-only and hybrid deployment scenarios.
- Windows Hello signs you into your devices much faster than when using a password.