Which of the following is a best practice for airport access control and worker credentialing?

• A. Multi-factor authentication
• B. Badge issuance and revocation
• C. Visitor management
• D. Multi-factor authentication, badge issuance and revocation, vetting, and visitor management

Answer: (A)

Multi-factor authentication provides the strongest, most immediate defense at entry points by requiring more than one form of verification for access. When someone must present a badge plus a second factor (like a PIN or a biometric), even a stolen or copied badge can’t guarantee entry. This layered approach directly reduces the risk of credential theft being exploited to reach restricted airport areas, which is critical for protecting personnel, operations, and security-sensitive zones.

Badge issuance/revocation, vetting, and visitor management are essential parts of a comprehensive program, but they don’t by themselves prevent misuse of a valid credential at the point of entry. MFA establishes a robust baseline for secure access control, with the other measures serving to reinforce and support that foundation.