________ is the process of assessing the identity of each individual claiming to have permission to use a resource.

• A. Authorizations
• B. Authentication
• C. Accuracy
• D. Auditing

Answer: (B)

Authentication is the process of confirming who a user is before granting access to a resource. It involves verifying identity claims with credentials or proof, such as something you know (password), something you have (token), or something you are (biometrics). This step happens before any access rights are checked, because you must know who the user is before deciding what they’re allowed to do. After identity is verified, authorization determines the specific permissions the user has for that resource. Auditing involves logging access events for accountability, and accuracy isn’t a standard term used to describe this access-control step.