Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to performing processing of content through partial authentication of secondary channel. An embodiment of a method includes performing a first authentication between a source transmitting device and a sink receiving device for communication of data streams, and performing a second authentication between the source transmitting device and a bridge device such that the second authentication is independent of the first authentication and the sink receiving device remains uninfluenced by the second authentication. The bridge device includes an intermediate carrier device coupled to the source transmitting device and the sink receiving device. The method further includes transmitting a data stream having encrypted content from the source transmitting device to the bridge device.