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Security Fundamentals & Crypto · Foundational

Identification

The act of a subject claiming an identity, such as entering a username, before it is authenticated.

Definition

Identification is the first step of access control, where a subject asserts who it is. The claim is not trusted until it is verified through authentication. Identifiers should be unique so actions can be tied to one subject for accountability.

Example

Typing 'jsmith' at a login prompt is identification; entering the password is authentication.

Exam tip

Do not confuse identification (claiming) with authentication (proving); shared accounts break unique identification.

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