What Every CISO Should Know About User Access Review

In today’s digital world, protecting sensitive data and critical systems isn’t just IT’s job—it’s a core responsibility of every Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). One of the most effective and often underutilized tools in a CISO’s toolkit is the user access review.

When done right, access reviews help organizations reduce security risks, ensure regulatory compliance, and support better decision-making around identity and access management. But many CISOs overlook their full potential.

Here’s what every CISO should know about user access reviews—and how they tie directly into your broader identity governance and administration (IGA) strategy.

1. User Access Reviews Are About More Than Compliance

Many companies approach access reviews simply to satisfy auditors or meet regulatory checkboxes. While that’s important, access reviews serve a much larger purpose: reducing internal risk by making sure users only have the access they truly need.

From employees with outdated permissions to contractors who never lost access after a project ended—these overlooked accounts are potential entry points for attackers. Regular reviews help spot and fix these gaps before they become breaches.

For a CISO, this isn’t just about policies—it’s about real-world risk mitigation.

2. Access Reviews Are a Key Part of Identity Governance

Identity governance and administration (IGA) isn’t just about provisioning and deprovisioning accounts—it’s about ensuring that access across the organization is always appropriate, justified, and aligned with business roles.

User access reviews are how you validate that the right people have the right access at the right time. They close the loop between access requests, approvals, and ongoing monitoring.

A strong access review program shows that your IGA strategy isn’t just reactive—it’s proactive and strategic.

3. Rubber-Stamping Is a Real Threat

If your access reviews are being completed in record time with very few changes, that might sound like a win—but it’s often a red flag. When managers blindly approve access without proper review, they’re unintentionally putting your organization at risk.

As a CISO, you should monitor review quality. Are people revoking access when it’s no longer needed? Are they questioning unnecessary permissions? If not, it may be time to revisit your process and ensure reviewers have the tools and context they need to make informed decisions.

4. Metrics Matter—Track Them

You can’t improve what you don’t measure. Important metrics include:

• Review completion rate

• Access revocation rate

• Time to complete reviews

• Accuracy of review decisions

• Privileged access review frequency

These metrics help CISOs assess the health of their access review process and identify areas that need attention. They’re also useful when presenting reports to the board or external auditors.

5. Automation Makes Access Reviews Smarter and Faster

Manual access reviews are slow, error-prone, and painful for everyone involved. Modern identity governance and administration platforms offer automation tools that streamline workflows, send reminders, and provide relevant user context (like roles, recent activity, or risk level).

As a CISO, investing in automation not only saves time—it reduces the risk of human error and improves the quality of your access decisions.

6. User Education Is Essential

Even with the best tools, user access reviews won’t work unless reviewers understand what they’re doing. Training is critical. Make sure department heads, team leads, and system owners know how to evaluate access, why it matters, and what to look out for.

A little education goes a long way toward reducing risky access and ensuring reviews are more than just a formality.

Final Thoughts

User access reviews are a critical—but often undervalued—pillar of enterprise security. For CISOs, they provide visibility into user behavior, enforce least privilege, and strengthen your organization’s overall security posture.

Combined with the right identity governance and administration tools, access reviews become a powerful ally—not just for compliance, but for proactive risk management. So if you’re not already paying close attention to access reviews, now’s the time to start. Your data—and your board—will thank you