Which process in a network ensures resources are allocated appropriately after user authentication?

The process that ensures resources are allocated appropriately after a user has been authenticated is authorization. Authorization determines what an authenticated user is permitted to do and which resources they can access within a network. This step follows authentication, where the system verifies the identity of the user. Once a user's identity is confirmed, authorization policies come into play to grant or deny access to specific resources based on the user's roles, permissions, and access levels.

This process is critical in maintaining security and ensuring that users only have access to the information and resources necessary for their roles, thereby mitigating the risk of unauthorized access and potential data breaches. It is separate from authentication, which focuses solely on confirming identity, and accounting, which involves tracking user activities and resource usage. Access control serves as the overarching framework that includes both authentication and authorization but does not specifically handle the allocation of resources after identity verification.