CAS-004 Security Engineering Practice Question
A company is implementing MFA for remote access. Which TWO factors are considered possession factors?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
A hardware OTP token
Option B (a hardware OTP token) is a possession factor because authentication depends on something the user physically has — the token device that generates or stores the one-time passcode. Option D (a push notification to a registered smartphone) is also a possession factor because the approval prompt is delivered to a specific device the user possesses, and possession of that enrolled phone is what enables the authentication. Option A (a fingerprint scan) is an inherence factor, since it relies on a biometric characteristic of the user. Option C (a PIN) and Option E (a password) are both knowledge factors, because they rely on something the user knows rather than something the user has.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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A fingerprint scan
Why it's wrong here
A fingerprint scan is an inherence factor, verified through a biometric characteristic of the user's body, not something the user possesses. Possession factors require a physical object such as a smart card, hardware token or registered device. Fingerprints would be correct where the requirement specifies biometric or inherence-based authentication.
- ✓
A hardware OTP token
Why this is correct
A hardware OTP token is a possession factor because authentication requires something the user physically holds, satisfying the MFA requirement for a possession-based credential. The device generates time-synchronised one-time codes, so access depends on possessing the hardware itself rather than knowledge or biometrics.
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A PIN
Why it's wrong here
A PIN is a knowledge factor, something the user memorises and enters, so it does not satisfy a possession requirement. Possession factors demand a physical object the user has, such as a smart card, OTP token or registered device. A PIN would be correct where the scenario asks for something the user knows.
- ✓
A push notification to a registered smartphone
Why this is correct
A push notification is delivered to a physical device the user possesses, making the registered smartphone itself the possession factor. The security rests on the device holding a cryptographic key or enrolled credential, so possession of that hardware satisfies the factor rather than knowledge or inherence.
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A password
Why it's wrong here
A password is a knowledge factor, recalled from memory rather than physically held, so it fails the possession requirement. Possession factors require a tangible item such as a smart card, hardware token or registered device. A password would be correct where the scenario asks for something the user knows.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CAS-005 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CAS-005 exam.