Network Management

SolarWinds Platform authentication support for Passkeys (WebAuthn/FIDO2) and Windows Hello for Business

SolarWinds Platform does not currently provide native support for Passkeys (WebAuthn/FIDO2) or Windows Hello for Business as first-class login options on the web console. Customers can use these methods indirectly when authentication is handled by an external identity provider (IdP) through SAML/SSO, but the SolarWinds login page does not natively register or validate passkeys or Windows Hello credentials.

First published date

4/16/2026 4:29 PM

Last published date

4/16/2026 4:29 PM

Overview

  • The SolarWinds Platform Web Console supports several authentication mechanisms for interactive logins, including local SolarWinds accounts, Windows/AD accounts (MSAPI or LDAP), LDAP-based AD authentication, and SAML v2 single sign-on (SSO).

  • Passkeys (WebAuthn/FIDO2) and Windows Hello for Business are not exposed as separate authentication types within the SolarWinds Platform. Instead, they can be used at the operating system or identity provider layer to satisfy Windows or SAML authentication and then present a standard Windows or SAML identity to SolarWinds.

  • This article explains the supported authentication options and how to position Passkeys/WebAuthn and Windows Hello for Business when designing or documenting an authentication strategy for the SolarWinds Platform.

Product section

Network Performance Monitor

Cause

The SolarWinds Platform relies on standard authentication protocols and account types (local accounts, Windows/AD, LDAP, SAML v2) for Web Console login, and does not implement WebAuthn/FIDO2 or Windows Hello as standalone authentication methods.

When customers deploy modern sign-in methods like Passkeys or Windows Hello for Business, these are typically handled by:

The operating system / domain during Windows Authentication, or

The identity provider (IdP) during SAML-based SSO (e.g., Azure AD / Entra ID, Okta, AD FS).

After successful OS/IdP authentication, SolarWinds only consumes the resulting Windows token or SAML assertion; it does not directly interact with the underlying Passkey or Windows Hello mechanism.

Resolution

Native passwordless authentication with Passkeys or Windows Hello for Business is not currently available in SolarWinds Platform.

Supported alternatives:

  1. Configure SAML authentication and enforce MFA or passwordless sign-in through the external identity provider.
  2. Use CAC/PKI smart card authentication where that method fits the customer environment.

Additional Information:

  • When customers ask for native authentication support beyond these documented options, the request should be treated as a feature request.
  • Prior internal support handling for similar YubiKey / FIDO-style requests distinguishes CAC/PKI smart card authentication from FIDO2/WebAuthn/U2F requests, and indicates that FIDO-style native support is not currently provided as standard product functionality.

Customer facing statement:

At this time, SolarWinds Platform does not natively support Passkeys (WebAuthn/FIDO2) or Windows Hello for Business for direct web console login. If MFA or passwordless access is required today, the recommended approach is to use SAML-based authentication with your external identity provider and enforce MFA or passwordless policies there. If native passkey support directly within SolarWinds is required, that request should be handled as a feature request.

Sources