ISC2 CC Security Principles Practice Question
A retail company wants to reduce the risk of fraudulent online purchases. The security manager proposes requiring customers to enter a password plus a code sent to their registered mobile phone. Which security concept does this proposal best illustrate?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming any two-step login is multi-factor, but two passwords or two codes from the same factor category would still be single-factor.
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
✓
Multi-factor authentication
Multi-factor authentication combines factors from different categories, such as something you know and something you have. The password represents knowledge, while the code sent to a registered mobile phone represents possession of that device. This pairing raises the difficulty for an attacker who steals only the password, so the proposal is best described as multi-factor authentication.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Federated identity
Why it's wrong here
Federated identity allows a user to authenticate across multiple systems using a trusted identity provider, often with standards like SAML or OpenID Connect. The scenario describes a direct login with password and phone code, not trust between organizations or domains. Thus federated identity is not the concept being applied.
- ✗
Single sign-on
Why it's wrong here
Single sign-on lets a user authenticate once and access multiple applications without re-entering credentials. The scenario does not mention accessing multiple systems after one login; it focuses on strengthening a single authentication event. Therefore, single sign-on is not the correct description of this proposal.
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Single-factor authentication
Why it's wrong here
Single-factor authentication uses only one category of evidence, such as a password. Here, the customer must also provide a code sent to a registered phone, which is a separate factor. Therefore, this proposal goes beyond single-factor authentication and is not the best description of the scenario.
- ✓
Multi-factor authentication
Why this is correct
Multi-factor authentication requires two or more different factor types, such as something you know and something you have. A password is knowledge, and a code sent to a registered phone is possession of that device. Combining them satisfies the definition, so this proposal correctly illustrates multi-factor authentication.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Authentication and Authorization Methods
Key term
Risk
Risk is the possibility that an event or action will negatively affect an organization's ability to achieve its goals, often measured in terms of likelihood and impact.
Key term
Authentication
Authentication is the process of verifying that someone or something is who or what it claims to be before granting access to a system or resource.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official ISC2 exam blueprint
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