An organization wants to implement a third factor to an existing multifactor authentication that already utilizes a smart card and password. Which of the following would meet the organization's needs for a third factor?

An organization wants to implement a third factor to an existing multifactor authentication that already utilizes a smart card and password. Which of the following would meet the organization's needs for a third factor?

• A. Date of birth
• B. Fingerprints
• C. PIN
• D. TPM

Answer: (B)

Adding a third factor to an existing multifactor authentication system that currently uses a smart card (something you have) and a password (something you know) requires the introduction of a biometric element (something you are). In this context, fingerprints serve as a physical characteristic that can uniquely identify an individual, thus providing an extra layer of security. Biometric factors like fingerprints are inherently more difficult to replicate or steal compared to knowledge-based factors like PINs or dates of birth, which can often be guessed or obtained by malicious actors. The inclusion of a fingerprint authentication method enhances the overall security posture by implementing a factor that is tied directly to the user and cannot be easily shared or transferred, which is a crucial element in effective multifactor authentication. Options such as a date of birth or a PIN do not qualify for an additional factor in this scenario. They belong to the category of information users know, and therefore do not provide the diversification needed for stronger security. A Trusted Platform Module (TPM) is a hardware-based security device that manages cryptographic keys and is not a user-specific factor needed for identification in this context. Thus, incorporating fingerprints as the third factor creates a robust multifactor authentication process that greatly reduces the risk of unauthorized access.

Adding a third factor to an existing multifactor authentication system that currently uses a smart card (something you have) and a password (something you know) requires the introduction of a biometric element (something you are). In this context, fingerprints serve as a physical characteristic that can uniquely identify an individual, thus providing an extra layer of security.

Biometric factors like fingerprints are inherently more difficult to replicate or steal compared to knowledge-based factors like PINs or dates of birth, which can often be guessed or obtained by malicious actors. The inclusion of a fingerprint authentication method enhances the overall security posture by implementing a factor that is tied directly to the user and cannot be easily shared or transferred, which is a crucial element in effective multifactor authentication.

Options such as a date of birth or a PIN do not qualify for an additional factor in this scenario. They belong to the category of information users know, and therefore do not provide the diversification needed for stronger security. A Trusted Platform Module (TPM) is a hardware-based security device that manages cryptographic keys and is not a user-specific factor needed for identification in this context. Thus, incorporating fingerprints as the third factor creates a robust multifactor authentication process that greatly reduces the risk of unauthorized access.