Identity Lifecycle Management (ILM)
Identity Lifecycle Management (ILM) is the process of managing digital identities and their access rights from creation to deletion. It ensures that user accounts, roles, and permissions are automatically adjusted as individuals join, change roles, or leave an organization. ILM enforces least privilege, reduces risk from orphaned accounts, and supports compliance by providing visibility and auditability across the identity lifecycle.
What is Identity Lifecycle Management?
Identity Lifecycle Management (ILM) is a core part of identity and access management (IAM). It automates the provisioning, modification, and deprovisioning of accounts across systems and applications. ILM ensures that each identity is properly created, updated when roles change, and securely removed when no longer needed. This minimizes manual errors, accelerates onboarding, and strengthens security.
Why is ILM important?
Organizations with large and dynamic workforces face high risks if identity processes are manual or inconsistent. Identity Lifecycle Management is critical because it reduces the risk of unauthorized access by promptly removing unused accounts, enforces least privilege by aligning permissions with roles, automates onboarding and offboarding to improve efficiency, prevents compliance violations by maintaining accurate records of identity changes, and supports Zero Trust by continuously validating identity access rights.
What are the key stages of ILM?
- Provisioning: Creating user accounts and assigning initial access based on role.
- Modification: Adjusting access rights as users change positions, departments, or responsibilities.
- Deprovisioning: Revoking access and removing accounts when employees leave or contracts end.
- Certification: Running periodic reviews to validate access rights.
- Auditing: Maintaining visibility into identity activity for compliance and security teams.
How does ILM work?
ILM integrates with HR systems, directories, and business applications to manage identity data consistently: - A new hire joins → ILM provisions accounts across relevant systems automatically. - A promotion occurs → ILM updates roles and permissions in real time. - An employee departs → ILM deprovisions all accounts and access promptly. - Managers and auditors → Review access rights through periodic certification campaigns.
Use Cases
- Healthcare: Automates clinician onboarding and revokes access immediately upon departure, ensuring HIPAA compliance.
- Financial Services: Manages dynamic trader and auditor roles with strict provisioning and attestation to prevent fraud.
- Government & Legal: Provides full audit trails of identity lifecycle events for accountability and compliance.
- Cloud & SaaS Providers: Synchronizes identity data across hybrid and multi-tenant platforms to reduce misconfigurations and orphaned accounts.
How Netwrix can help
Netwrix supports Identity Lifecycle Management with solutions for Identity Management, Privileged Access Management (PAM), and automation. With Netwrix, organizations can:
- Automate provisioning and deprovisioning across hybrid IT environments.
- Enforce least privilege by aligning entitlements with business roles.
- Detect and remediate orphaned or inactive accounts.
- Provide detailed audit trails and certifications to simplify compliance.
This approach strengthens security while reducing operational overhead and complexity.
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