What happens after authentication in the access control process?

After authentication in the access control process, the next step is to determine authorization. Authentication is the process of verifying the identity of a user or a system, typically through credentials like passwords, biometric data, or security tokens. Once this identity is confirmed, the system needs to assess what that authenticated user is allowed to do—this is where authorization comes into play.

Authorization involves evaluating the permissions and access rights assigned to the user based on their role, established policies, or other criteria. This ensures that users can only access the resources and perform the actions that they are explicitly allowed to. Therefore, without determining authorization, even a successfully authenticated user could potentially access sensitive data or functionalities beyond their permissions, which can lead to security risks.

The other options do not accurately describe the next step following authentication. Data sharing, requiring additional user input, or data deletion do not fit into the standard access control framework established after the authentication process. The focus is squarely on confirming what the authenticated user is permitted to do with the system and data.