How do you enable strong authentication on devices everyone uses — but no one owns? It is a growing challenge for organizations that depend on mobility to stay productive. In hospitals, factories, logistics hubs, and public services, tablets and smartphones are shared across shifts to keep teams connected and workflows efficient.
But as devices change hands, balancing security with usability becomes increasingly complex. Traditional cards and mobile identities address different aspects of physical and digital access, yet neither fits into shared-device environments.
“The answer lies in combining trusted physical credentials, such as NFC-enabled smart cards, with mobile-ready authentication that aligns with Zero Trust principles and global compliance standards,” says Olivier Dussutour, Director of Business Line Workforce Identities at Nexus IN Groupe. He explains that this approach provides every employee with fast, frictionless access to shared technology, without compromising identity assurance or data protection.
Most organizations already rely on a mix of smart cards and mobile identities to secure workforce access. Each works well in its own context — smart cards provide high-assurance authentication in fixed environments, while mobile identities enable flexibility on individual mobile devices.
In shared-device scenarios, however, mobile identities depend on one-time passwords (OTPs), often sent to an employee’s personal phone, introducing an extra device, unnecessary friction, and potential security and privacy risks. Meanwhile, traditional smart cards require readers or desktop setups that don’t translate well to mobile workflows.
This is where NFC-based authentication cards bridge the gap, combining physical credentials with the convenience of mobile access.
When authenticating via NFC, employees can simply tap their smart card on the shared device and enter a PIN to verify their identity, without relying on personal hardware or parallel authentication channels.
Each login is unique and secure, and once the session ends, no credentials or data remain on the device. This makes it possible for multiple people to use the same phone or tablet safely, without compromising privacy or compliance.
In practice, this enables:
For employees, it means easy access and more focus on the task at hand. For organizations, it transforms every shared mobile device into a trusted access point within a scalable identity framework that extends across sites and departments.
“Behind every secure login is a verified identity,” states Olivier. “To make NFC-based authentication effective at scale, organizations need a consistent way to issue, manage, and revoke those identities across the workforce.”
That’s where Nexus GO Workforce comes in — a cloud-based identity service that lets organizations create and manage digital identities at scale. These identities work across physical and mobile credentials, ensuring every user is verified and trusted before access is granted.
Trusted authentication on shared devices relies on two components:
Together, they enable strong authentication, digital signing, encryption, and visual identification, combining flexibility with proven cryptographic assurance.
“The eIDAS-compliant service meets the data protection and audit requirements of regulated industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, and public administration. Built on open standards, GO Workforce integrates effortlessly with existing identity providers, including Microsoft Entra and Nexus Digital Access IDP, making it easy to extend strong authentication across hybrid IT environments,” Olivier elaborates on the interoperability offered by GO Workforce.
By centralizing identity issuance and lifecycle management, organizations gain both control and agility, reducing administrative overhead while ensuring every authentication event is anchored in trust.
NFC-based authentication fits seamlessly into the Zero Trust model, ensuring that even shared mobile devices meet the same high standards as corporate laptops or desktops.
By uniting trusted physical credentials, mobile identity, and centralized lifecycle management, organizations can secure even the most dynamic work environments without slowing them down. Employees gain a smooth experience, IT gains visibility and control, and the organization builds a foundation ready for future compliance and security demands
To explore how NFC-based authentication can strengthen your Zero Trust strategy, book a consultation or request a demo with our experts at Nexus. We’ll show you how to secure shared devices, streamline identity management, and deliver a seamless experience for your workforce.
Published
17/10 2025
Secure your shared devices, streamline identity management, and deliver a seamless experience for your mobile teams with Nexus GO Workforce