Which of the following is NOT a benefit of using Kerberos?

The choice that highlights a characteristic that does not align with Kerberos benefits focuses on its method of handling passwords. Kerberos is designed to enhance security by using ticket-based authentication rather than transmitting sensitive information like passwords across the network. With its ticket-granting system, Kerberos provides users with service tickets that can be used for authentication without needing to send passwords multiple times, effectively avoiding the vulnerabilities associated with password transmission over unsecured networks.

In contrast, the other mentioned aspects underscore the advantages of using Kerberos. It effectively operates across different vendor systems, improving interoperability in diverse environments. Kerberos significantly enhances network security by minimizing the risk of password interception and replay attacks. Additionally, it facilitates user authentication by allowing users to log in once and access multiple services without re-entering credentials, thereby streamlining the authentication process and improving user experience.