What is the primary purpose of authentication in cybersecurity?

The primary purpose of authentication in cybersecurity is to verify a user's identity. Authentication is the process that ensures the person or entity accessing a system, network, or application is indeed who they claim to be. This is crucial for maintaining security, as it helps prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information or systems.

Through various methods such as passwords, biometrics, security tokens, or multi-factor authentication, organizations can confirm user identities before granting access to valuable and potentially vulnerable resources. By validating identities, authentication plays a fundamental role in protecting data integrity and privacy, thereby forming the first line of defense against cybersecurity threats.