Which of the following is NOT a step in the incident handling process?

The incident handling process is a systematic approach designed to manage and respond to security incidents effectively. It typically includes several essential steps: Preparation, Identification, Containment, Eradication, Recovery, and Lessons Learned.

The focus of the correct answer highlights that "Authentication" does not belong to the essential steps of the incident handling process. While authentication is undeniably an important aspect of security, related to verifying user identities and access controls, it does not specifically pertain to how organizations handle security incidents.

In contrast, the other options—Eradication, Recovery, and Preparation—are all critical components that help ensure an organization is ready to respond to incidents, eliminate threats, and restore systems to normal operation afterward. Preparation involves establishing policies and procedures, while Eradication and Recovery address the actions taken to remove threats and recover from an incident.

This distinction clarifies the scope of incident handling and reinforces the importance of having a structured response framework that does not confuse operational security practices like authentication with the incident handling lifecycle. Understanding these concepts is vital for managing responses effectively and ensuring organizational resilience against security threats.