Final answer:
EAP-FAST provides authentication through Protected Access Credentials (PAC), ensuring the security and authenticity of user credentials through a two-step validation process.
Step-by-step explanation:
EAP-FAST (Extensible Authentication Protocol-Flexible Authentication via Secure Tunneling) provides authentication through Protected Access Credentials (PAC). PAC is a mechanism utilized in EAP-FAST that securely validates the authentication request from the client before granting network access. It helps ensure the authenticity and security of the user's credentials.
EAP-FAST uses a two-step process involving the exchange of server-generated and client-generated PACs. The server's PAC is used to validate the server's credential, while the client's PAC is used to validate the client's credential. This mutual authentication helps establish a secure connection between the client and the network.
In summary, EAP-FAST employs the use of Protected Access Credentials (PAC) for authentication in order to establish a secure and trusted connection between the client and the network.