Quick Answer
The correct answer is the combination of a smart card and a fingerprint. This is because multi-factor authentication requires the use of two or more distinct factor types, and a smart card represents something you have—a physical possession—while a fingerprint represents something you are—an inherent biometric trait. On the Certified Information Systems Security Professional CISSP exam, this concept tests your understanding of the three core authentication factor categories: knowledge, possession, and inherence. A common trap is confusing two factors from the same category, such as a password and a PIN, which are both something you know and do not constitute true MFA. The exam emphasizes that true MFA must combine factors from at least two different categories to enhance security. A helpful memory tip is to think of the phrase “Have and Are” as the gold standard for strong authentication: you physically hold the token, and your body provides the key.
This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of identity and access management. 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 implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) for remote access. Which combination of factors represents something you have and something you are?
Password and PIN
Why wrong: Both are knowledge factors.
Hardware token and mobile phone
Why wrong: Both are possession factors.
Smart card and fingerprint
Smart card (possession) + fingerprint (inherence) = two factors.
Password and SMS code
Why wrong: Password (knowledge) + SMS (possession) is two factors but not 'have' and 'are'.
Answer choices
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 fingerprint
Option C is correct because a smart card is a physical device that you possess (something you have), and a fingerprint is a biometric characteristic unique to you (something you are). This combination satisfies the multi-factor authentication requirement by using two distinct factors from different categories, which is more secure than using two factors from the same category.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Password and PIN
Why it's wrong here
Both are knowledge factors.
Hardware token and mobile phone
Why it's wrong here
Both are possession factors.
Smart card and fingerprint
Why this is correct
Smart card (possession) + fingerprint (inherence) = two factors.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Password and SMS code
Why it's wrong here
Password (knowledge) + SMS (possession) is two factors but not 'have' and 'are'.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'something you have' with 'something you know' or fail to recognize that two factors from the same category (e.g., two knowledge factors) do not constitute true multi-factor authentication.
Detailed technical explanation
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) requires factors from at least two of the three categories: knowledge (something you know), possession (something you have), and inherence (something you are). Smart cards use public key infrastructure (PKI) with a stored private key that never leaves the card, while fingerprint scanners use minutiae matching algorithms to verify live biometric data against stored templates. In real-world deployments, combining a smart card with a fingerprint ensures that even if the card is stolen, the attacker cannot authenticate without the matching biometric, and the biometric alone cannot be used without the card's cryptographic challenge-response.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A security analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
What to study next
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Identity and Access Management — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Identity and Access Management — This question tests Identity and Access Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Smart card and fingerprint — Option C is correct because a smart card is a physical device that you possess (something you have), and a fingerprint is a biometric characteristic unique to you (something you are). This combination satisfies the multi-factor authentication requirement by using two distinct factors from different categories, which is more secure than using two factors from the same category.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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 →
Same concept, more angles
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 employees to authenticate using a smart card and PIN to access the corporate network. This is an example of which type of authentication?
easyWhy C: This scenario requires two distinct authentication factors: something you have (the smart card) and something you know (the PIN). Smart cards store a private key or certificate that must be unlocked by the PIN, and both factors must be presented simultaneously to authenticate. This meets the NIST SP 800-63 definition of multi-factor authentication, specifically two-factor authentication.
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This CISSP 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 CISSP exam.
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