What is an effective method to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data?

Implementing strong password policies and requiring multi-factor authentication (MFA) is an effective method for preventing unauthorized access to sensitive data due to the layered security approach it provides. Strong password policies help ensure that users create complex passwords that are difficult to guess or crack, which reduces the risk of unauthorized access due to compromised credentials.

MFA enhances security further by requiring additional verification methods beyond just the password. This can include something the user has (like a smartphone for a verification code) or something inherent to the user (like a fingerprint). Even if a password is compromised, the presence of MFA makes it significantly harder for an attacker to gain access, as they would require the second factor of authentication to complete the login process.

This combination addresses a critical aspect of cybersecurity, which is user authentication—ensuring that only authorized users have access to sensitive data. Other methods, while potentially beneficial in certain contexts, do not provide the same level of protection specifically against unauthorized access to data as the combination of strong password policies and MFA.