In order to gain access to a user dashboard via an online portal, an end user must provide their username, a PIN, and a software token code. This…

The process described is two-factor authentication (2FA) because it requires the user to present evidence from two different categories of authentication factors. In this case, the user provides "something they know" (the PIN) and "something they have" (the software token that generates a code). The username acts as an identifier, not an authenticator. Combining two distinct factor types significantly strengthens security by requiring more than just a compromised password or PIN for access.

A. Type 1 authentication: This refers to a single factor based on knowledge (e.g., a PIN or password) alone, but the scenario requires an additional factor type.

B. Type 2 authentication: This refers to a single factor based on possession (e.g., a token or smart card) alone, but the scenario also requires a knowledge factor.

D. Biometric authentication: This is a Type 3 factor that uses inherent physical or behavioral traits (e.g., fingerprint, iris scan), which are not used in this process.

---

1. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). (2017). Special Publication 800-63B

Digital Identity Guidelines: Authentication and Lifecycle Management.

Section 4.1

"Authentication Factors": This section defines the three types of authentication factors: "something you know" (e.g.

password

PIN)

"something you have" (e.g.

cryptographic key

software token)

and "something you are" (biometrics).

Section 5.1.1

"Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)": This section states

"MFA requires at least two different factors to be used for authentication." The scenario uses a knowledge factor (PIN) and a possession factor (software token)

meeting this definition.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-63b

2. University of California

Berkeley. CS 161: Computer Security

Lecture 15: Authentication.

Slide 23

"Two-Factor Authentication": The lecture notes define two-factor authentication as combining factors from two of the three categories (know

have

are). The example given explicitly aligns with the question's scenario: "e.g.

password + code from phone app." This directly supports the conclusion that the described process is 2FA.

Source: https://inst.eecs.berkeley.edu/~cs161/fa20/slides/15-Auth.pdf