Which authentication method requires more than one verification step?

• A. Single sign-on
• B. Password management
• C. Multi-factor authentication
• D. Biometric scanning

Answer: (C)

Multi-factor authentication is designed to enhance security by requiring more than one form of verification before granting access to a system or account. This method typically combines something you know (like a password), something you have (such as a security token or smartphone app), and something you are (biometric data like a fingerprint or facial recognition). By utilizing multiple verification steps, multi-factor authentication significantly decreases the risk of unauthorized access, as a potential attacker would need to compromise several different elements to gain entry.

In contrast, other methods like single sign-on streamline the authentication process by allowing users to log in once to access multiple applications, which does not add additional layers of security. Password management focuses primarily on securely storing and managing passwords, and while biometric scanning offers a single method of authentication through physical characteristics, it does not involve multiple verification steps. Overall, multi-factor authentication stands out for its layered approach to security, critical in protecting sensitive information.