What does the acronym MFA stand for?

MFA stands for Multi-Factor Authentication, which is a security mechanism that requires users to provide multiple forms of verification to gain access to a system or application. This approach significantly enhances security by combining different types of authentication factors, usually categorized as something the user knows (like a password), something the user has (like a security token or smartphone), and something the user is (like biometric verification such as fingerprints or facial recognition). By requiring multiple factors for authentication, it helps protect against unauthorized access, as an attacker would need to compromise more than just a single authentication method to gain entry.

Other options like Multiple Frequency Analysis and Managed Firewall Access are not widely recognized terms related to authentication protocols. Master File Algorithm, while it sounds technical, does not pertain to user authentication techniques. Multi-Factor Authentication is the standard term that emphasizes the importance of layering security controls to safeguard sensitive information.