RSA CEO highlights challenges and opportunities in passwordless security

Greg Nelson emphasized that achieving true passwordless security requires a hybrid, cross-platform approach supported by posture management, while reaffirming RSA’s innovation-driven roadmap and commitment to securing enterprises, governments, and critical infrastructure with layered defense strategies

New RSA CEO Greg Nelson has identified major hurdles facing organizations seeking to adopt passwordless authentication, despite growing interest in ditching traditional passwords.

In a recent interview, Nelson emphasized that while many companies aim to strengthen security by going passwordless, most struggle due to fragmented solutions. "Organizations often rely on four to five different vendors to piece together a functioning passwordless system," he said. In contrast, RSA’s phishing-resistant token offers a unified approach, functioning across devices, operating systems, and environments.

Hybrid approach and security strategy

Nelson argued that true passwordless security requires a hybrid solution—one that covers all user types and device platforms, not just Windows. “The only way to stop phishing-resistant attacks is to fully commit to a passwordless journey,” he said, adding that posture management is key to identifying system weaknesses before they are exploited.

The CEO also pointed to RSA’s roadmap driven by innovation since its separation from Dell, and reaffirmed the company’s leadership ambitions in the enterprise workforce security market. He highlighted RSA’s efforts in protecting governments, critical infrastructure, and high-risk organizations through comprehensive, layered security solutions.

With over 25 years in tech and software leadership, Nelson brings significant experience to RSA. Before his appointment, he held senior roles at Omnitracs, Masergy Communications, and Forrester Research, leading global sales and commercial strategies.

As RSA evolves under his leadership, Nelson believes the company is uniquely positioned to help clients navigate the complexities of transitioning to secure, passwordless environments.