What is the process of recognizing a user's identity?

• A. Authentication
• B. Authorization
• C. Accounting
• D. Identification

Answer: (A)

Authentication is the process of recognizing a user's identity by verifying their credentials. It answers the question of whether you are really who you claim to be, using methods like something you know (password or PIN), something you have (security token or smart card), or something you are (biometrics). This distinguishes it from authorization, which determines what resources you’re allowed to access after you’re authenticated; accounting, which logs what you did, and identification, which is about establishing who you are in the first place. In practice, logging in with a password is authentication—the system verifies that credential and confirms your identity, enabling appropriate access and auditing as needed.