Cybersecurity Foundations · 4 min
Authentication
Proving who you are — and why one factor isn't enough
This lesson explains the concept, then checks your understanding in a short interactive exercise.
Authentication vs authorization
Authentication proves who you are. Authorization decides what you're allowed to do once you're recognized. They're related but separate steps.
- Authentication — 'prove it's you'
- Authorization — 'here's what you can access'
Factors of authentication
Proof usually comes from one or more of these categories:
- Something you know — a password or PIN
- Something you have — a phone or hardware key
- Something you are — a fingerprint or face scan
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