Multifactor Authentication

Multifactor authentication is a way to deal with access control for servers and computers. In that model, users are only granted access if they have given more than one piece of information that proves they are who they say they are. In multifactor authentication, those pieces of information are usually from multiple categories.

Users may have to prove knowledge, showing something they know, such as a password; possession, or something they have, such as a key or RFID tag; or inherence, something they are, such as a fingerprint or other biometric piece of data.

Check Your Knowledge

Choose the best answer to each question:
Question 1
True or false: Multifactor authentication requires only one proof of user identity.
True
False
Question 2
True or false: Multifactor authentication can only include proof of knowledge authentication.
True
False
Question 3
Which of the following is not a type of authentication in multifactor authentication?
knowledge
possession
inherence
security