What is identity lifecycle management (ILM)? Definition & tools

Every time someone joins your company, they need access to specific systems, applications, and data to do their job. When they change roles, their access needs to change too. 

And when they leave, all that access needs to be removed quickly and completely. This process happens dozens or hundreds of times each year, and getting it wrong creates serious security and compliance risks.

Identity lifecycle management addresses this challenge by automating how digital identities and access permissions are created, managed, and eventually removed. Instead of IT teams manually setting up accounts and permissions for each person, ILM systems handle these tasks automatically based on predefined rules and workflows.

The importance is as clear as day. Poorly managed identity lifecycles lead to orphaned accounts, excessive privileges, and compliance violations that can result in data breaches or failed audits. On the flip side, effective ILM enhances security, improves operational efficiency, and ensures compliance across the entire employee lifecycle.

We’ll uncover more about identity lifecycle management in this piece, including its challenges, best practices, and solutions.

What is identity lifecycle management?

Identity lifecycle management (ILM) is the end-to-end process of managing digital identities from initial creation through eventual deprovisioning. 

In practice, that means:

• Setting up new user accounts and assigning access on day one

• Granting permissions that match job responsibilities and follow least privilege

• Adjusting access automatically when employees change roles or departments

• Providing temporary or elevated access when needed, and revoking it on time

• Removing access immediately when someone leaves the organization

• Keeping records for audits, compliance checks, and security reviews

At its core, ILM keeps digital access aligned with business reality by automating changes that manual processes handle slowly and inconsistently.

How identity lifecycle management works

While specific implementations vary, most ILM systems follow these core phases:

Identity creation

The process begins when a new user’s digital identity needs to be established, typically triggered by HR systems when someone is hired or when a new contractor relationship begins. The ILM system creates the foundational identity record that will be used across all connected systems and applications.

Onboarding and provisioning

Once the identity exists, the system provisions appropriate access based on the person's role, department, and business requirements. This includes creating accounts in necessary applications, assigning to appropriate groups, and configuring initial permissions. 

Access management and role changes

As people change roles, get promoted, or transfer to different departments, the ILM system updates their access permissions accordingly. This might involve adding new application access, removing permissions that are no longer needed, or changing group memberships to reflect new responsibilities.

Monitoring and auditing

ILM systems continuously monitor identity status and access patterns to identify potential issues like excessive permissions, unused accounts, or suspicious access patterns. Regular monitoring helps maintain security and provides the visibility needed for compliance reporting.

Access updates and permissions management

Beyond role changes, ILM handles ongoing permission adjustments like temporary access grants for special projects, access reviews to validate current permissions, and cleanup of permissions that are no longer being used. This ongoing management process prevents privilege creep and maintains least privilege principles.

Offboarding and deprovisioning

When employment ends or contractor relationships conclude, ILM systems automatically revoke access across all connected systems. This immediate deprovisioning prevents former employees from retaining inappropriate access and reduces security risks associated with orphaned accounts.

Automate user access changes from hire to retire

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Why identity lifecycle management matters

Effective identity lifecycle management delivers several critical benefits that directly impact both security and operational efficiency:

Reduces security risk from stale or excess privileges

Without automation, users often accumulate permissions they no longer need, creating hidden vulnerabilities. ILM eliminates this privilege creep by updating access when roles change and running regular reviews, shrinking the attack surface and limiting the damage a compromised account can cause.

Speeds up onboarding and offboarding

Automated user provisioning means new employees get the access they need immediately rather than waiting days or weeks for IT to manually set up accounts. Similarly, automated deprovisioning ensures that departing employees lose access immediately, reducing security risks and administrative overhead.

Improves audit readiness and compliance

ILM systems maintain detailed logs of all identity and access changes, providing the documentation needed for compliance audits. Automated processes ensure consistent application of security policies, making it easier to demonstrate compliance with regulations like SOX, HIPAA, or GDPR.

Reduces IT workload through automation

By automating routine identity management tasks, ILM frees IT teams to focus on more strategic initiatives. Instead of spending time manually creating accounts and managing permissions, IT staff can work on projects that add more business value.

What are some effective identity management solutions?

The ILM market offers a range of platforms built for different needs and environments. Here are some of the most common identity lifecycle management tools and what they provide:

1. Rippling

Rippling unifies identity management with HR and IT operations in a single platform, creating a uniquely powerful approach to access control. Rather than treating identity management as a separate function, Rippling drives all access decisions from a centralized employee record that automatically updates across systems when employment data changes.

Key features

• Provides single sign-on (SSO) across 650+ integrated applications

• Adjusts access permissions when employees change roles

• Manages device security across Mac, Windows, cloud platforms

• Generates audit trails with built-in monitoring tools

Deploy automations across the user lifecycle

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2. Okta

Okta provides cloud-based identity and access management (IAM) with authentication capabilities and extensive application integration options. The platform specializes in securing user access across complex application ecosystems with adaptive security policies.

Key features

• Applies adaptive MFA based on risk assessment

• Offers 7,000+ pre-built application integrations for deployment

• Support for customer identity (CIAM) via acquisition of Auth0

3. Microsoft Entra ID 

Microsoft's identity platform delivers access management with deep integration into Microsoft's ecosystem and advanced security features. The solution is particularly effective for organizations already invested in Microsoft technologies and cloud services.

Key features

• Evaluates sign-in risk with conditional access policies

• Provides just-in-time access for sensitive roles

• Supports passwordless authentication through Windows Hello

4. OneLogin

OneLogin combines identity management with user experience optimization, emphasizing deployment and operational simplicity for IT administrators. The platform focuses on reducing complexity while maintaining security controls across cloud and on-premises applications.

Key features

• Delivers one-click access to applications

• Reduces IT burden through self-service capabilities

• Uses AI to identify suspicious access patterns

5. JumpCloud

JumpCloud offers cloud-based directory services designed specifically for modern, distributed workforces that need both identity and device management capabilities. The platform eliminates the need for on-premises infrastructure while providing comprehensive endpoint control.

Key features

• Manages identities and device policies together

• Enables centralized authentication without hardware infrastructure

• Provides identity visibility across users and devices

Common challenges in ILM implementation

While ILM delivers major benefits, organizations often hit roadblocks during implementation that can undermine its effectiveness.

Siloed tools and fragmented identity data

Many organizations use separate systems for HR, IT, and security functions, creating disconnected identity data that's difficult to manage consistently. When employee information exists in multiple systems that don't communicate well, maintaining accurate identity lifecycle management becomes complex and error-prone.

Manual, error-prone provisioning workflows

Legacy processes that rely on email requests, manual approvals, and individual system updates create delays and increase the risk of errors. Manual processes also make it difficult to maintain consistent security policies across different applications and systems.

Complex role and access assignment logic

Mapping permissions to job roles, departments, and business needs isn’t simple, especially in large organizations with diverse responsibilities. Building automated rules that reflect business reality while keeping security intact takes careful design and constant fine-tuning.

Limited visibility across systems

Without centralized identity management, IT teams often lack visibility into what access each person has across different systems. This makes it harder to run access reviews, spot privilege creep, or enforce policies consistently.

Enforcing least privilege policies

Least privilege is easy in theory but difficult in practice. Determining exactly which permissions each role needs, and keeping them up to date as responsibilities evolve often becomes a balancing act between security and productivity.

Reduce IT workload through automated identity provisioning

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Best practices for effective identity lifecycle management

Successful ILM implementation requires following proven IAM practices that address common challenges and maximize benefits:

1. Integrate with HR systems

Tie ILM directly to HR platforms so identity changes like hiring, promotions, or terminations trigger automatically. This ensures a single source of truth for accurate provisioning and deprovisioning.

2. Automate provisioning and deprovisioning

Replace manual account creation and deletion with automated workflows that respond to HR system changes. Automation reduces errors, speeds up processes, and enforces policies consistently across all applications.

3. Implement role-based access control (RBAC)

Assign permissions by role instead of individual users to simplify management. RBAC simplifies provisioning, keeps access consistent, and makes it easier to enforce least privilege.

4. Conduct regular access reviews

Schedule periodic reviews of user access permissions to identify and remove unnecessary privileges. Ongoing reviews prevent privilege creep and keep access aligned with current responsibilities.

5. Centralize identity governance

Use centralized identity governance platforms to manage policies, approvals, and compliance reporting across all systems. Centralization provides the visibility and control needed to maintain consistent security policies and meet audit requirements.

6. Implement self-service workflows

Provide self-service capabilities for routine requests like password resets or temporary access. This lightens IT’s workload while giving employees faster, more efficient access without bypassing approval rules.

How Rippling simplifies identity lifecycle management

Traditional identity management platforms often require stitching together multiple tools, creating complexity and gaps. Rippling takes a different approach by building ILM directly into HR and IT operations, so identity management happens automatically as part of everyday business processes.

Key capabilities of Rippling’s identity and access management software include:

• Automated provisioning and deprovisioning: Access updates instantly when employees are hired, change roles, or leave. This keeps accounts accurate at all times and removes the security risks of orphaned access.

• Role-based access tied to HR attributes: Permissions adjust automatically based on job title, department, or employment status. As responsibilities shift, old permissions are revoked and new ones applied without manual effort.

• Centralized visibility and reviews: IT teams can see access across systems, run reviews, and generate audit reports in one dashboard. This unified view makes it easier to spot privilege creep and prove compliance.

• Self-service access requests: Employees request temporary or additional access through familiar workflows, with automated approvals in place. This reduces IT bottlenecks while ensuring security teams keep full oversight.

• Audit-ready reporting: Every identity and access change is logged with timestamps and context for compliance and investigations. These detailed records simplify audits and speed up security investigations.

This integrated model means organizations don’t need separate identity tools or complex integrations. The same system managing payroll, benefits, and onboarding also governs access, eliminating silos and duplicate work. 

By keeping HR, IT, and security aligned in one platform, Rippling reduces administrative overhead while strengthening both security and compliance.

Identity lifecycle management FAQs

What is the difference between ILM and IGA?

ILM (identity lifecycle management) focuses specifically on managing user identities from creation to deprovisioning, while IGA (identity governance and administration) is a broader framework that includes ILM plus additional governance capabilities like access reviews, policy management, and compliance reporting. Think of ILM as a component of IGA that handles the operational aspects of identity management.

What is the difference between IAM and IdM?

IAM (identity and access management) and IdM (identity management) are related but not identical. IdM focuses specifically on creating, maintaining, and deactivating digital identities and their attributes. IAM is the broader framework that includes identity management along with access management, which governs how those identities interact with systems, applications, and data. In short, IdM is about managing who a user is, while IAM covers both identity and the permissions that control what that user can do.

How does ILM support zero-trust security models?

ILM supports zero trust by ensuring that access permissions are continuously validated and updated based on current employment status and job requirements. Zero trust assumes no implicit trust, so ILM's ability to automatically remove unnecessary access, conduct regular reviews, and enforce least privilege principles aligns perfectly with zero trust security principles.

What is FIM in identity management?

FIM (federated identity management) is a related concept that focuses on managing identities across multiple organizations or domains. While ILM manages identities within a single organization throughout their lifecycle, FIM handles identity federation between different organizations, allowing users to access resources across organizational boundaries using their existing credentials.

This blog is based on information available to Rippling as of September 18, 2025.