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FC0-U71 Security Practice Question

Which TWO of the following are examples of multi-factor authentication? (Choose TWO.)

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

✓

Smart card and a PIN

Option C (Smart card and a PIN) is correct because it combines two different authentication factor categories: a smart card is something you have (a physical token holding a certificate or key), while a PIN is something you know, satisfying multi-factor authentication. Option E (Password and a fingerprint scan) is correct because it pairs something you know (the password) with something you are (a biometric fingerprint), which are distinct factor types. Options A, B, and D are not multi-factor: A uses two things you know (password and security question), B is a single factor (something you know), and D is also two instances of the same knowledge factor, so none combine different factor categories.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

  • ✗

    Password and a security question

    Why it's wrong here

    A password and a security question are both knowledge factors, so combining them remains single-factor despite appearing layered. It is tempting because two separate prompts suggest added security, but multi-factor authentication requires different factor categories, such as a password paired with a smart card or fingerprint.

  • ✗

    Username and password

    Why it's wrong here

    Username and password both sit in the knowledge category, so combining them yields single-factor authentication, not MFA. It tempts because credentials remain the standard first factor and satisfy authentication on their own in legacy systems; the stem, however, requires factors drawn from separate categories such as knowledge plus possession or inherence.

  • ✓

    Smart card and a PIN

    Why this is correct

    A smart card (something you have) combined with a PIN (something you know) satisfies multi-factor authentication by drawing on two distinct factor categories. This pairing meets the stem's requirement for MFA, unlike single-category methods such as two passwords, which remain knowledge-based only.

  • ✗

    Two different passwords

    Why it's wrong here

    Two different passwords are both knowledge factors, so the pair stays single-factor regardless of how distinct the strings are. It is tempting because two credentials feel like two checks, but MFA requires factors from separate categories, such as a password plus a possession or inherence factor.

  • ✓

    Password and a fingerprint scan

    Why this is correct

    Combining a password (something you know) with a fingerprint scan (something you are) satisfies the two distinct authentication factor categories required for multi-factor authentication. Because the factors differ in type, this pairing meets the stem's criterion, unlike two methods drawn from the same category.

About these practice questions

Courseiva writes every FC0-U71 question from scratch — 988 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →

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Same concept, more angles

1 more way this is tested on FC0-U71

These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.

Variation 1. A company requires all employees to use a smart card and a PIN to access the building. This is an example of which concept?

medium
  • A.Authorization
  • B.Biometrics
  • ✓ C.Multi-factor authentication
  • D.Single sign-on

Why C: Multi-factor authentication combines something you have (smart card) and something you know (PIN).

JA

Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security

Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva

This FC0-U71 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 FC0-U71 exam.