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    Case study

    Enabling password-less security for a leading U.S. telecom

    How a major U.S. telecom eliminated passwords for 75,000+ employees — advancing Zero Trust with hardware-backed authentication.

    Service

    Strategy and Transformation Technology and Engineering

    Industry

    Government

    A major U.S. telecommunications company partnered with Nortal to implement password-less authentication across its entire workforce. As part of a broader Zero Trust strategy, the initiative aimed to eliminate traditional credentials and enforce hardware-based authentication using security keys and mobile authenticators.

    The project was driven by a growing volume of credential-based threats, including phishing and unauthorized access attempts targeting the company’s distributed workforce.

    Phasing out legacy credentials 

    The organization needed to retire legacy login mechanisms and enforce new authentication policies at scale, without disrupting day-to-day operations. With tens of thousands of employees across corporate, retail, and field environments, the solution had to integrate with a range of systems — including Slack, Okta, and Microsoft Active Directory.

     

    The key requirements were to:

    • Revoke outdated credentials safely and efficiently

    • Apply new authentication methods with minimal user friction

    • Avoid operational disruptions during the transition

    • Reduce exposure to phishing and account compromise

    Rapid, customer implementation 

    Nortal delivered a lightweight, custom solution in under 30 days.

    Building a Java application with an Angular front end to integrate with the client’s existing platforms via API. This enabled automated credential revocation and policy enforcement for password-less authentication using physical security keys and mobile-based multi-factor authentication.

    The streamlined team structure allowed for rapid development, minimal overhead, and direct alignment with internal security goals.

    Enterprise-wide authentication upgrade

    The rollout delivered measurable impact across security, scale and usability without disrupting daily operations. 

    • Full workforce coverage: More than 75,000 employees and contractors transitioned to password-less authentication, including retail, corporate, and executive staff

    • On-time delivery: Solution launched within 30 days

    • Improved security posture: Eliminated password-based vulnerabilities and reduced phishing risk by linking credentials to physical devices

    • Simplified access management: Consolidated multiple authentication systems into a unified, automated credential framework

    Building a stronger security foundation

    This effort supported a significant shift toward Zero Trust architecture at one of the nation’s largest telecom providers. By removing passwords from the authentication process and enforcing hardware-backed access, the company strengthened its security baseline while maintaining productivity for its workforce.

    The project demonstrates how targeted, efficient solutions can drive enterprise-scale security improvements — even in complex, high-risk environments.

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    Break down silos. Build real security. 

    Today’s threats don’t stay in one lane — neither should your defenses. Discover how a unified approach to cybersecurity, physical security, and insider threat management can help you move faster, reduce risk, and stay resilient.

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