What does sensitive authentication data include?

Sensitive authentication data encompasses specific types of information that must be protected to ensure the security of payment card transactions. The correct answer highlights that sensitive authentication data includes more than just individual components like card expiration dates, cardholder names, or service codes. It specifically defines sensitive authentication data as information related to the payment card that can be used to authenticate a transaction.

When considering sensitive authentication data, the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) outlines that this data includes details such as the full track data (from magnetic stripes), card security codes (CVC2/CVV2), and personal identification numbers (PINs).

The option in question accurately identifies that neither the Primary Account Number (PAN) nor service code alone constitutes the entirety of sensitive authentication data. Each of the other options limits the concept and does not represent the broader set of data that requires stringent security measures. Therefore, the correct response captures the essence of sensitive authentication data as comprising various data points rather than isolating any single element.