312-50V9 · Question #123
What are the three types of authentication?
The correct answer is B. Something you: have, know, are. Authentication is categorized into three factors based on what a user knows, possesses, or is biologically.
Question
What are the three types of authentication?
Options
- ASomething you: know, remember, prove
- BSomething you: have, know, are
- CSomething you: show, prove, are
- DSomething you: show, have, prove
How the community answered
(30 responses)- A3% (1)
- B87% (26)
- C3% (1)
- D7% (2)
Why each option
Authentication is categorized into three factors based on what a user knows, possesses, or is biologically.
'Remember' is synonymous with 'know' and is not a distinct authentication factor, making this list redundant and non-standard.
The three standard authentication factors are something you know (e.g., a password), something you have (e.g., a smart card or token), and something you are (e.g., a fingerprint or biometric). This framework is foundational to multi-factor authentication (MFA) and is defined in security standards such as NIST SP 800-63. Combining two or more of these factors significantly strengthens access control.
'Show' and 'prove' are informal descriptions that do not correspond to any recognized authentication factor category.
'Show' is not a recognized factor, and while 'have' and 'prove' overlap with valid concepts, the set is incomplete and non-standard.
Concept tested: Three factors of authentication (MFA)
Source: https://pages.nist.gov/800-63-3/sp800-63b.html
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