User Account Provisioning


Provisioning is the process of deploying an account, host, or application to a target production environment.

  • involves proving the identity or integrity of the resource, and issuing it with credentials and access permissions
  • IT department must keep track of all assets under management
    • user accounts are a type of asset
  • User accounts are provisioned for
    • new employees
    • temporary access

Process

  • Identity Proofing
    • verifies that the person is who they say they are by checking official documents and records
    • might also need a background check
      • verifies:
        • current and previous addresses
        • education or previous employment
        • whether the person has a criminal record or credit issues
  • Issuing Credentials
    • allows the user to select a password known only to them and/or enroll them with biometric or token-based authenticators
  • Issuing Hardware and Software Assets
    • user will need, typically a computer and/or smartphone and possibly local copies of licensed software apps
    • employees with insufficient resources may obtain hardware/software independently (shadow IT)
  • Teaching Policy Awareness
    • scheduling training and providing access to learning resources so that the employee or contractor is aware of security policies and risks
    • must also be aware of policies for personal use of any IT assets issued to them
  • Creating Permissions Assignment
    • identifying the work roles that the account must support and configuring the appropriate rights
    • If the account is granted privileged access,
      • it should be tagged for close monitoring

Deprovisioning is the process of removing an account, host, or application from the production environment.

  • involves
    • revoking any privileged access that had been assigned to the object
    • removing the account from any roles or security groups
  • might be disabled for a period and then deleted or deleted immediately