Network Defense Essentials (NDE) Practice Exam

Which authentication technique involves using contextual information such as geolocation and identity?

1. Context-aware authentication

2. Multi-factor authentication

3. BIOmetric authentication

4. Basic authentication

The correct answer is: Context-aware authentication

Context-aware authentication is a technique that leverages contextual information to enhance security during the authentication process. This may include aspects such as geolocation, time of access, the behavior of the user, and the device being used. By analyzing these factors, the system can determine whether the authentication attempt is legitimate or potentially fraudulent. For instance, if a user typically logs in from a specific geographic location and suddenly attempts to access their account from an unusual location, the system may flag this as a potential risk and either challenge the login attempt with additional verification steps or deny access entirely. This approach adds an extra layer of security by considering the environment in which the authentication is taking place, allowing for dynamic responses to varying contexts. In contrast, multi-factor authentication relies on the use of two or more different authentication factors, such as something the user knows (like a password) and something they have (like a smartphone app for generating a time-based code). While this method enhances security, it does not specifically utilize contextual information. Biometric authentication relies on unique biological characteristics, such as fingerprints or facial recognition, to verify a user's identity, without considering other contextual factors like location. Basic authentication generally involves simple username and password combinations, lacking any advanced security measures such as those provided by