What term describes an authentication scheme requiring two or more factors?

What term describes an authentication scheme requiring two or more factors?

• A. password best practices
• B. account policies
• C. multifactor authentication (MFA)
• D. data masking

Answer: (C)

Requiring two or more authentication factors is about using multifactor authentication. This approach combines evidence from at least two independent categories to verify who you are, such as something you know (a password), something you have (a hardware token or authenticator app), or something you are (a biometric). By needing multiple factors, a stolen password alone isn’t enough to gain access, because the attacker would still need the second form of proof. Other options don’t describe this approach. Password best practices focus on how passwords are created and protected, not on using multiple factors for authentication. Account policies relate to rules and requirements for user accounts, not the authentication method itself. Data masking is about hiding sensitive data in storage or display, not verifying identity.

Requiring two or more authentication factors is about using multifactor authentication. This approach combines evidence from at least two independent categories to verify who you are, such as something you know (a password), something you have (a hardware token or authenticator app), or something you are (a biometric). By needing multiple factors, a stolen password alone isn’t enough to gain access, because the attacker would still need the second form of proof.

Other options don’t describe this approach. Password best practices focus on how passwords are created and protected, not on using multiple factors for authentication. Account policies relate to rules and requirements for user accounts, not the authentication method itself. Data masking is about hiding sensitive data in storage or display, not verifying identity.