definition of terms

Identity lifecycle management (ILM) refers to the controlled, rule-based handling of digital identities throughout their entire lifecycle—from creation to deactivation or deletion. The goal is to keep identities and authorizations up to date, accurate, and secure at all times.

ILM is a central component of modern IAM architectures and forms the basis for automated, compliance-compliant user management.

Phases of the identity lifecycle

The identity lifecycle typically comprises four phases:

1. Provisioning (onboarding)
   When new employees or external users join the company, their digital identities are created in the system and initial access rights are assigned according to their role and function. Modern ILM solutions enable this to be done automatically and on a role-based basis.
2. Access Management
   During operation, ILM dynamically adjusts access rights: when roles change, projects are assigned, or permissions are limited in time. This ensures that users only have access to the resources they actually need, in accordance with the least privilege principle.
3. Auditing & Monitoring
   To comply with security policies and legal requirements (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA), ILM enables continuous monitoring and tracking of identity and access changes. This supports audits and facilitates forensic analysis.
   
4. Deprovisioning (offboarding)
   As soon as a user leaves the organization or no longer requires certain access rights, ILM automatically revokes all access rights and, if necessary, deletes or blocks the account. This prevents shadow identities, orphaned accounts, and security gaps.
   

Goals and benefits

• Avoiding orphaned accounts and unnecessary permissions
• Reduction of security risks due to outdated or inconsistent access
• Support for compliance requirements (e.g., ISO 27001, GDPR, NIS2)
• Basis for audits, recertifications, and role-based access control

 

practical example

A new employee joins the company. Their user account is automatically created based on HR data, and roles and rights are systematically assigned. If they change departments later, their permissions are adjusted. When they leave the company, all accounts are automatically blocked, including all connected target systems such as AD, M365, and specialist applications.

Conclusion:

Identity lifecycle management ensures that digital identities are managed automatically, based on rules, and in an audit-proof manner throughout their entire useful life.