easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
ISC2 CC Practice Question: Which authentication factor does a smart card…
Which authentication factor does a smart card represent?
⚠ Common exam trap
ISC2 often tests the distinction between 'something you have' and 'something you know' by including a PIN as part of smart card usage, leading candidates to mistakenly classify it as 'something you know' instead of recognizing the card itself as the primary 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
✓
Something you have
A smart card is a physical device that stores cryptographic keys or certificates, making it a classic 'something you have' factor. It requires possession of the card to authenticate, even if the user knows a PIN, because the PIN unlocks the card but does not replace the physical possession requirement.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Something you know
Why it's wrong here
Smart cards are not knowledge-based.
- ✓
Something you have
Why this is correct
Smart cards are physical tokens.
- ✗
Somewhere you are
Why it's wrong here
Location-based factors are 'somewhere you are'.
- ✗
Something you are
Why it's wrong here
Biometrics are 'something you are'.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Authentication and Authorization Methods
Key term
Common Access Card
A Common Access Card (CAC) is a smart card issued by the U.S. Department of Defense that serves as a single identification, authentication, and access credential for military personnel and contractors.
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.
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on CC
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. Match each authentication factor to an example.
medium- ✓ A.Something you know: Password
- ✓ B.Something you have: Smart card
- ✓ C.Something you are: Fingerprint
- ✓ D.Somewhere you are: GPS location
- E.Something you know: Smart card
- F.Something you have: Password
Why A: Multi-factor authentication (MFA) requires at least two distinct types of factors. Knowledge (something you know), possession (something you have), inherence (something you are), and location (somewhere you are) are common categories.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.