Accredited ACH Professional (AAP) Practice Exam

What is the primary method that employs two or more types of authentication credentials?

1. Single-Factor Authentication

2. Multi-Factor Authentication

3. Two-Step Verification

4. Biometric Verification

The correct answer is: Multi-Factor Authentication

The primary method that employs two or more types of authentication credentials is multi-factor authentication. This approach enhances security by requiring users to present multiple forms of verification before they are granted access to a system or application. Typically, these forms of verification fall into three categories: something the user knows (like a password), something the user has (like a smartphone or security token), and something the user is (like a fingerprint or facial recognition). By combining these different types of credentials, multi-factor authentication significantly reduces the likelihood of unauthorized access, as it is much harder for an attacker to obtain multiple forms of verification. Other options represent different methods of authentication, but they do not encompass the use of multiple types of credentials as multi-factor authentication does. Single-factor authentication relies solely on one type of factor, generally a password, which does not provide the enhanced security of requiring additional verification methods. Two-step verification typically involves a password followed by a secondary verification step (like a code sent to a mobile device), but it is often categorized under multi-factor authentication. Biometric verification focuses specifically on physical characteristics for identity verification and, while it can be a part of a multi-factor strategy, does not, by itself, encompass multiple types of credentials.