What is the first step in the Five Steps to Authentication?

The first step in the Five Steps to Authentication is "Something you know." This foundational concept revolves around the use of knowledge-based factors for verifying identity, such as passwords or personal identification numbers (PINs).

Authentication's essence is about ensuring that a user is who they claim to be, and using information that the user knows allows systems to establish a baseline of trust. This method is prevalent in online services where users create accounts protected by passwords as a primary security measure.

Once this initial knowledge-based step is established, other factors can come into play, such as biometric methods (something you are), physical tokens (something you have), or behavioral patterns (something you do) to enhance security further. However, starting with "something you know" sets the stage for initiating secure access procedures and establishing user identity.