Information Technology Specialist (ITS) Cybersecurity Practice Exam 2025 - Free Cybersecurity Practice Questions and Study Guide

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is an authentication method that significantly enhances security by requiring two different forms of identification before granting access to an account or system. This approach typically combines something the user knows (like a password) with something the user has (like a smartphone app that generates a verification code) or something the user is (like biometric data).

By necessitating different types of authentication factors, 2FA helps protect against unauthorized access, even if one factor, such as a password, is compromised. This makes it far more difficult for attackers to gain access to sensitive information, as they would need both factors to breach security.

In contrast, other options describe methods that lack this dual-layered approach. For instance, relying solely on a password does not provide the additional security layer that 2FA offers. Similarly, combining two similar forms of verification does not enhance security since both factors could be compromised in the same way. Finally, single sign-on (SSO) systems focus on enabling users to access multiple applications with one set of credentials, which does not involve the layered security approach inherent in 2FA.