If a username does not match the 'identity' column in the identities list, which column is checked next?

When a username fails to match the 'identity' column in the identities list, the next column checked is the email address. This is because, in many systems that require identity verification, the email address serves as a critical identifier. It adds another level of confirmation regarding the user's identity, especially since email addresses are often unique and directly associated with user accounts.

Verifying against the email address allows for a more comprehensive identification process, ensuring that the system can still attribute the correct identity even if the username provided is incorrect or outdated. It is common practice to utilize email as a secondary method of authentication and identification, highlighting its importance in user identity management within platforms like Splunk.

The other choices do not follow the common identity verification hierarchy seen in many systems. For instance, checking a nickname may not provide as reliable a match since nicknames can be much less formal and vary widely among users. Similarly, using IP addresses can lead to inaccuracies, as users may be accessing the system from multiple locations, and personal name combinations can be too variable and not unique enough to serve as effective identifiers.