CompTIA CASP+ Practice Test

What authentication method is being used when a user logs into a domain with a PKI certificate from a smartcard?

1. OAuth

2. SAML

3. Kerberos

4. X.509

The correct answer is: SAML

The correct answer accurately identifies the authentication method involved when a user logs into a domain using a PKI certificate from a smartcard. In this scenario, the user is employing a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) certificate, which typically adheres to the X.509 standard for formatting public key certificates. When a user presents a smartcard containing an X.509 certificate, the system verifies the certificate's authenticity against a trusted Certificate Authority (CA). This process enables the use of digital signatures and encryption, contributing to secure access to the domain. While OAuth, SAML, and Kerberos are significant authentication protocols, they do not specifically pertain to the use of PKI and X.509 certificates with smartcards. OAuth is primarily an authorization framework, SAML facilitates single sign-on (SSO) and identity federation often in web contexts, and Kerberos is a network authentication protocol that relies on symmetric key cryptography. None of these methods directly relate to the framework provided by X.509 certificates and the use of smartcards for user authentication in this context.