Which process involves identifying a person and verifying his or her credentials?

Which process involves identifying a person and verifying his or her credentials?

• A. Authentication
• B. Identification
• C. Authorization
• D. Verification

Answer: (A)

Authentication is the process of proving a claimed identity by presenting credentials and having them verified. It answers the question of whether you really are who you say you are by checking that your credentials (like a password, a token, or a biometric) match what’s on file. This inherently combines identifying the user with validating their credentials, which is why it’s the best fit for the described process. Identification alone would just reveal who you claim to be without any verification, and authorization is about what you’re allowed to do after you’re identified and authenticated. Verification is a broader term and, in this context, authentication is the standard term used for proving identity with credentials.

Authentication is the process of proving a claimed identity by presenting credentials and having them verified. It answers the question of whether you really are who you say you are by checking that your credentials (like a password, a token, or a biometric) match what’s on file. This inherently combines identifying the user with validating their credentials, which is why it’s the best fit for the described process. Identification alone would just reveal who you claim to be without any verification, and authorization is about what you’re allowed to do after you’re identified and authenticated. Verification is a broader term and, in this context, authentication is the standard term used for proving identity with credentials.