What type of software confirms the identity of a user or computer system in a secure connection?

The correct answer is authentication, which is the process that confirms the identity of a user or a computer system in secure connections. Authentication ensures that only authorized individuals or systems can gain access to sensitive information and resources. This is essential in maintaining security within networks, particularly when sensitive data is transmitted over the Internet.

Authentication can involve several methods, including passwords, biometric data, security tokens, or even two-factor authentication, where a combination of various credentials is used to verify identity. By confirming the identity of users or devices, authentication helps prevent unauthorized access, thereby enhancing overall network security.

Other options like encryption are related to securing data so that it cannot be easily read or accessed by unauthorized users, but it does not verify identity itself. Firewalls serve as barriers to protect networks from malicious traffic but do not focus on user identity. Access control governs who can view or use resources within a system once authentication has been successfully completed, but it does not by itself establish or confirm the identity.