Are accounts created and removed automatically when HR adds or ends someone?

Okta Workflows and Entra ID lifecycle workflows use the HR system as the trigger to create accounts, assign apps and remove access on the last day.

How to automate it

How to automate “grant and remove access to apps, repos and shared drives”

Here are 2 ways to spend less time on this, best first. Each comes with steps you can follow today.

30 min

typically, every day

70%

of the time can be automated

Some setup

to set up

Fix 1 of 2

AutomationBest fix

Let people request access themselves with approval built in

Access request tools let users ask for an app or group from Slack or a portal, route it to the owner for approval, and grant it automatically, with a full audit trail for reviews.

Typically saves about 60% of the time6 h to set up

1Pick the tool: Entra ID access packages, Okta Identity Governance, or ConductorOne, Lumos or Opal.
2Name an owner for each app or group who approves requests.
3Allow requests from Slack or Teams and set access to expire where sensible.
4Use the same tool to send quarterly access reviews to owners.

Tools: Microsoft Entra ID Governance · Okta Identity Governance · ConductorOne · Lumos · Opal

Fix 2 of 2

Automation

Drive joiners, movers and leavers from the HR system automatically

When HR adds, changes or ends someone in the HR system, Okta Workflows or Entra ID lifecycle workflows create accounts, assign groups and remove access without a ticket.

Typically saves about 65% of the time10 h to set up

1Connect your HR system (Workday, BambooHR, HiBob, Rippling) to Okta or Entra ID as the source of truth.
2Map departments and job titles to groups that grant the right apps.
3Build joiner, mover and leaver workflows (Okta Workflows or Entra ID Governance lifecycle workflows).
4Use SCIM provisioning for apps that support it so accounts are created and removed automatically.
5Test with a fake employee before switching on.

Tools: Okta Workflows · Microsoft Entra ID Governance · Google Workspace · Rippling IT

Quick wins

Have you tried…

Are accounts created and removed automatically when HR adds or ends someone?: Okta Workflows and Entra ID lifecycle workflows use the HR system as the trigger to create accounts, assign apps and remove access on the last day.

Who does this task

Roles in our library that list this as one of their common tasks. Each guide covers the rest of that role’s week.

DevOps / Site reliability engineer IT support / Helpdesk IT / Systems administrator

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