- A
Two-factor authentication
Two distinct factors (knowledge and possession) are required, making this two-factor authentication.
- B
Single sign-on
Why wrong: Single sign-on allows users to authenticate once and access multiple systems; it does not inherently involve multiple factors.
- C
Biometric authentication
Why wrong: Biometric authentication uses physical characteristics (e.g., fingerprint, face) and is not based on a password and a code.
- D
Multifactor authentication with three factors
Why wrong: Only two factors (password and one-time code) are used, not three.
Question 152 of 520
N10-009 Network Security Practice Question
This N10-009 practice question tests your understanding of network security. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A company wants to ensure that only authorized users can access the internal network by requiring both a password and a one-time code from a mobile app. This is an example of:
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
✓
Two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication (2FA) requires exactly two distinct authentication factors from different categories: something you know (password) and something you have (one-time code from a mobile app). This matches the scenario precisely, as the password is a knowledge factor and the mobile app-generated code is a possession factor, satisfying the definition of 2FA.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Two-factor authentication
Why this is correct
Two distinct factors (knowledge and possession) are required, making this two-factor authentication.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Single sign-on
Why it's wrong here
Single sign-on allows users to authenticate once and access multiple systems; it does not inherently involve multiple factors.
When this WOULD be correct
An exam question might ask: 'A company wants users to authenticate once and then access multiple cloud applications without re-entering credentials. Which technology should they implement?' In that scenario, single sign-on (SSO) would be the correct answer.
- ✗
Biometric authentication
Why it's wrong here
Biometric authentication uses physical characteristics (e.g., fingerprint, face) and is not based on a password and a code.
When this WOULD be correct
A question that asks: 'A company implements fingerprint scanning to verify user identity before granting access. This is an example of what?' would make biometric authentication correct.
- ✗
Multifactor authentication with three factors
Why it's wrong here
Only two factors (password and one-time code) are used, not three.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question described requiring a password, a one-time code from a mobile app, and a fingerprint scan, then it would be multifactor authentication with three factors (knowledge, possession, inherence).
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The N10-009 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓Two-factor authenticationCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
Two distinct factors (knowledge and possession) are required, making this two-factor authentication.
✗Single sign-onWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Single sign-on (SSO) allows a user to log in once and access multiple systems without re-entering credentials, but it does not inherently require a one-time code from a mobile app. The question describes two distinct authentication factors (password and one-time code), which is two-factor authentication, not SSO.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
An exam question might ask: 'A company wants users to authenticate once and then access multiple cloud applications without re-entering credentials. Which technology should they implement?' In that scenario, single sign-on (SSO) would be the correct answer.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse SSO with the convenience of using a mobile app for authentication, or they might think that SSO always involves a second factor, when in fact SSO is about access management across systems, not about the number of authentication factors.
✗Biometric authenticationWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The question describes a password plus a one-time code from a mobile app, which are two different factors (something you know and something you have), not biometrics.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question that asks: 'A company implements fingerprint scanning to verify user identity before granting access. This is an example of what?' would make biometric authentication correct.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse the one-time code from a mobile app as a biometric factor, or mistakenly think that any authentication method involving a mobile device is biometric.
✗Multifactor authentication with three factorsWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The scenario uses only two factors (password and one-time code), so it is two-factor authentication, not three-factor. Multifactor authentication with three factors would require three distinct categories, such as password, token, and biometric.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question described requiring a password, a one-time code from a mobile app, and a fingerprint scan, then it would be multifactor authentication with three factors (knowledge, possession, inherence).
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse 'multifactor' with 'multiple factors' and think that using two factors qualifies as multifactor with three factors, misunderstanding that the number of factors must match the label.
Analysis generated from the official N10-009blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the distinction between two-factor authentication and multifactor authentication, where candidates mistakenly think that using two different types of the same factor (e.g., two passwords) counts as 2FA, but the key is that the factors must come from different categories (knowledge, possession, inherence).
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, the one-time code is typically generated using Time-based One-Time Password (TOTP) as defined in RFC 6238, which uses a shared secret and the current time to produce a 6-8 digit code. The mobile app (e.g., Google Authenticator) acts as a software token, and the server validates the code by computing the same TOTP value. In real-world scenarios, this prevents replay attacks because the code expires after 30 seconds, and it mitigates credential theft since an attacker needs both the password and the physical device.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the N10-009 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Network Security — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Network Security practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All N10-009 questions
520 questions across all exam domains
- →
CompTIA Network+ N10-009 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
N10-009 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related N10-009 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Networking Concepts practice questions
Practise N10-009 questions linked to Networking Concepts.
Network Implementation practice questions
Practise N10-009 questions linked to Network Implementation.
Network Operations practice questions
Practise N10-009 questions linked to Network Operations.
Network Security practice questions
Practise N10-009 questions linked to Network Security.
Network Troubleshooting practice questions
Practise N10-009 questions linked to Network Troubleshooting.
Network+ network fundamentals practice questions
Practise N10-009 questions linked to Network+ network fundamentals.
Practice this exam
Start a free N10-009 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this N10-009 question test?
Network Security — This question tests Network Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Two-factor authentication — Two-factor authentication (2FA) requires exactly two distinct authentication factors from different categories: something you know (password) and something you have (one-time code from a mobile app). This matches the scenario precisely, as the password is a knowledge factor and the mobile app-generated code is a possession factor, satisfying the definition of 2FA.
What should I do if I get this N10-009 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Keep practising
More N10-009 practice questions
- Which of the following network devices operates primarily at Layer 2 of the OSI model and uses MAC addresses to forward…
- Which of the following is a characteristic of UDP when compared to TCP?
- Which of the following IPv6 addresses is a valid link-local address?
- Which of the following security mechanisms requires a user to authenticate before gaining access to the wired network at…
- Which of the following network protocols operates at the Transport layer of the OSI model and provides connection-orient…
- Which of the following is a characteristic of a connectionless protocol at the transport layer?
Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
This N10-009 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 N10-009 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.