ISC2 CC Security Principles Practice Question
A security professional is asked to choose an authentication method for a high-security facility. The requirement is to use something the user 'is'. Which authentication type should be selected?
⚠ Common exam trap
CC often tests the distinction between authentication factor types (knowledge, possession, inherence) and multi-factor authentication, so candidates may mistakenly choose 'multi-factor authentication' when the question asks for a specific factor type.
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
✓
Type 3 – Inherence factor
Type 3 – Inherence factor refers to something the user 'is', i.e., a biometric characteristic such as fingerprint, retina, or iris. The requirement explicitly states 'something the user is', which directly maps to inherence. Therefore, Type 3 is the correct authentication type.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Type 3 – Inherence factor
Why this is correct
Type 3 authentication verifies something the user is, through inherence factors such as fingerprints, iris patterns or facial geometry. The stem explicitly requires something the user 'is', ruling out Type 1 (knowledge) and Type 2 (ownership) factors. Biometrics therefore satisfy the high-security facility's requirement.
- ✗
Multi-factor authentication
Why it's wrong here
Multi-factor authentication combines two or more different factor categories; it does not itself denote a biometric. It is tempting because it strengthens assurance and is standard for high-security facilities, and would be correct if the requirement were simply stronger authentication, but the stem specifies something the user is.
- ✗
Type 2 – Possession factor
Why it's wrong here
A possession factor verifies something the user has, such as a smart card or hardware token, which can be lost, stolen or cloned. It is tempting because tokens pair well with biometrics for high-security access, and would be correct as a second factor, but it is not the something-you-are factor requested.
- ✗
Type 1 – Knowledge factor
Why it's wrong here
A knowledge factor verifies something the user knows, such as a password or PIN, which an attacker can obtain through phishing or guessing. It is tempting because passwords are cheap and familiar, and would be correct for a low-risk login, but the stem demands a biometric trait.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Authentication and Authorization Methods
Key term
User
A user is any person, system, or device that interacts with an IT service, resource, or identity system, typically authenticated through credentials and authorized to perform specific actions.
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.
About these practice questions
One of 989 original CC practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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
This CC practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 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 CC exam.