Match each basic security term to its most accurate meaning.

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How to think about this question

Authentication is the process of verifying the identity of a user, device, or system before granting access to network resources. In Cisco environments, this often involves protocols like RADIUS or TACACS+ that validate credentials such as usernames and passwords or digital certificates. Authentication is foundational because it establishes trust, ensuring that only legitimate entities can proceed to interact with network devices or services. Authorization occurs after successful authentication and determines what an authenticated user or device is allowed to do. Cisco devices use authorization to enforce policies, such as permitting certain commands in IOS or restricting access to specific VLANs or network segments. This separation of authentication and authorization allows granular control over network resource usage and helps maintain security boundaries. Confidentiality and integrity are core principles of information security that protect data in transit or at rest. Confidentiality prevents unauthorized disclosure, often implemented via encryption technologies like IPsec or SSL/TLS in Cisco networks. Integrity ensures that data has not been altered maliciously or accidentally, using mechanisms such as hashing and digital signatures. Misunderstanding these terms can lead to misconfigurations, such as assuming authentication alone protects data privacy, which it does not.

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