Overview: Access Review

Quick Definition

An access review is a systematic evaluation of user permissions and access rights within an organization's systems and applications. This process involves examining who has access to what resources, whether that access is still appropriate for their current role, and if permissions align with the principle of least privilege.

Access reviews are typically conducted on a regular schedule—quarterly, semi-annually, or annually—depending on organizational security policies and regulatory requirements. During the review, administrators or data owners evaluate each user's access permissions against their job responsibilities, removing unnecessary privileges and ensuring compliance with security policies.

The process helps organizations maintain security hygiene by identifying and remediating access creep, where users accumulate permissions over time that they no longer need. This is particularly important when employees change roles, transfer departments, or leave the organization entirely.

Many organizations automate portions of access reviews using identity governance tools that can flag unusual permissions, identify dormant accounts, and streamline the approval process for access changes. Regulatory frameworks like SOX, HIPAA, and PCI DSS often mandate regular access reviews as part of compliance requirements.