Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) Practice Exam

Is it accurate to say that authentication can use certificates to identify individuals or services?

1. True

2. False

3. Only for services

4. Only in Azure environments

The correct answer is: True

It is accurate to say that authentication can use certificates to identify individuals or services, making the statement true. Certificates are a critical component of many authentication mechanisms, particularly in secure communications. They play a vital role in establishing trust by allowing users or services to prove their identity to one another through cryptographically signed data. When an entity wishes to authenticate, it can present a certificate that contains its public key and identifying information. The counterpart can then verify the authenticity of that certificate through a trusted Certificate Authority (CA). This process ensures that only legitimate users or services can gain access to sensitive information or resources. While it is essential to recognize that other methods for authentication exist, utilizing certificates is a well-established practice in various digital environments, not limited to Azure but applicable across many platforms. Thus, the assertion regarding the use of certificates in authentication is valid and important for secure system design and implementation.