Which of the following is an example of an identity-based authentication mechanism in Azure?

Identity-based authentication mechanisms are designed to confirm a user's identity before granting access to resources. In Azure, the use of Microsoft Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) credentials is a prime example of this approach. Azure AD is a cloud-based identity and access management service from Microsoft that provides a way to authenticate users based on their identities. Users can log in using their Azure AD credentials, which enables organizations to manage user access and permissions centralized through identity management.

Using Azure AD credentials facilitates not only user authentication but also supports features such as single sign-on, multifactor authentication, and role-based access control, further solidifying its role as a robust identity-based authentication mechanism.

In contrast, options like OAuth tokens or JWT (JSON Web Tokens) are protocols or formats used in the context of authentication or authorization but are not specific identity sources themselves. They often rely on an underlying identity provider, such as Azure AD, to validate identities. An SSH key, while it is a method of authentication, does not provide identity management; it is more about establishing a secure access connection rather than confirming user identity linked to specific user accounts or roles within a management framework like Azure AD.