Smart Card MFA Additional Factor
Short answer
A A PIN serves as the 'something you know' factor that complements the smart card's 'something you have' factor for MFA.
Question
Key Takeaways
The exam tests the ability to distinguish between authentication factors; the common trap is selecting another physical token or knowledge identifier that doesn't pair with the specific hardware in use.
This question tests the components of Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) when using a smart card. It establishes that a PIN serves as the necessary 'something you know' factor to complement the 'something you have' smart card.
Common mistake: Users often select Hardware Token, failing to recognize it duplicates the 'something you have' category rather than providing the distinct 'something you know' factor required for MFA.
Expert Analysis
Why the Answer Is Correct
A smart card represents the 'something you have' factor in authentication. To implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), a second, distinct factor is required. A Personal Identification Number (PIN) provides 'something you know', creating a robust two-factor combination.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Hardware tokens are also 'something you have', failing to provide factor diversity. User IDs are identifiers, not secrets or factors. SMS delivers a code ('something you know') but is not the standard additional factor integrated directly with a smart card reader interface.
Community Comment Notes
Community consensus strongly supports the PIN answer. As salah112 noted, the combination provides both possession and knowledge. Dapsie reinforced this by comparing it to a debit card scenario where the card and PIN work together.
Exam Strategy
Always categorize each option into the three MFA buckets: Something You Know, Have, or Are. Ensure the selected additional factor belongs to a different bucket than the primary credential provided in the stem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is a hardware token incorrect for this question?
Can a User ID be considered an authentication factor?
Community Votes
100% of anonymous learners picked answer A. Votes are pick records left by other test-takers — they are not the verified answer.
Discussion 7 contributions
Compiled from public community threads and reader submissions, lightly edited for clarity. Handles and vote tallies are shown as recorded, and comments reflect the views of individual contributors.
From public community threads 7
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Sosa300 👍 3is user ID not also something you know?
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[Removed] 👍 2 Answered AFactors - Something you know - Something you have - Something you are In the question they say that they want MFA. one of the authentication factors is a smartcard which is something you have. In order to have MFA you need to have different authentication methods, in this case smart card is something you have and the only other answer that isn't something you have is PIN. A PIN is defined as something you know.
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salah112 👍 2 Answered AA. PIN When using a smart card for Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), the additional factor is typically a Personal Identification Number (PIN). The combination of the smart card and the associated PIN provides two factors of authentication: something the user has (the smart card) and something the user knows (the PIN).
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Hs1208 👍 2 Answered AThe combination of the smart card and PIN adds an extra layer of security by requiring both a physical token and a knowledge-based credential for authentication
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Benrosan 👍 1 Answered APIN is something you know, which satisfies MFA requirements (smart card is something you have)
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Dapsie 👍 1 Answered AJust imagine a debit or credit card
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shady23 👍 1 Answered AA. PIN
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