Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure (AZ-204) Practice Exam

Which statement accurately describes multifactor authentication?

1. It requires multiple passwords for a single login

2. It combines two or more independent credentials for verification

3. It involves verification through biometric data only

4. It eliminates the need for any password at all

The correct answer is: It combines two or more independent credentials for verification

Multifactor authentication (MFA) is a security measure that enhances the process of verifying a user's identity by requiring two or more independent credentials. These credentials typically fall into three categories: something you know (like a password), something you have (like a physical token or smartphone), and something you are (biometric data, such as a fingerprint or facial recognition). The core principle behind MFA is that it significantly increases security by making it much harder for unauthorized users to access sensitive information or systems, as they would need to breach multiple layers of security instead of relying on a single factor, such as a password. While other choices mention aspects of MFA, they do not accurately capture its true essence. For instance, requiring multiple passwords for a single login does not represent the multifactor nature, as passwords alone do not fulfill the criteria of combining different types of credentials. Only relying on biometric data ignores other potential verification methods, and eliminating passwords entirely contradicts the need for at least one verification factor, which is a fundamental component of multifactor authentication. Thus, the definition provided in the correct answer encapsulates the multifaceted approach of MFA accurately.