Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK) Practice Test 2025 - Free CCSK Practice Questions and Study Guide

The act of proving a user's identity is best described by the term authentication. Authentication is a critical security process that involves verifying whether someone is who they claim to be, typically through various means such as passwords, biometrics, or security tokens. This process is fundamental in ensuring that only authorized users can access certain resources or data within a system.

Authentication is essential in safeguarding sensitive information and maintaining the integrity of systems by preventing unauthorized access. Without proper authentication measures, malicious actors could easily impersonate legitimate users, leading to potential security breaches and data compromises.

In contrast, authorization follows authentication and refers to the process of determining what an authenticated user is allowed to do. Accountability is about tracking user actions within a system to ensure responsible usage, while acknowledgment generally involves recognizing or confirming receipt of information or a request. Thus, authentication specifically focuses on the validation of a user's identity, which is why it is the correct answer.