Access Governance

Access Governance refers to the overarching process of controlling and managing user access rights within an organization. The goal is to ensure that employees, contractors, and systems have access only to the resources they genuinely need for their tasks—and that this access is transparent and auditable.

Unlike operational Identity & Access Management (IAM), Access Governance focuses on the strategic and audit-proof management of permissions. This includes:

·        Regular review (recertification) of access rights

·        Automated approval workflows (e.g., Role-Based Access Control)

·        Detection and prevention of privilege accumulation (privilege creep)

·        Reporting and auditing for traceability

An effective Access Governance program protects against insider threats, unauthorized access, and data breaches. At the same time, it supports compliance with legal requirements such as the GDPR and industry-specific regulations.

Implementing Access Governance can involve both organizational and technical effort—especially in large enterprises with many users, systems, and applications. Automated solutions, clearly defined role models, and tight integration with IAM and PAM systems help manage this complexity.

Access Governance is therefore a key building block for transparent, secure, and compliant IT infrastructures.