In every organization, people come and go. New employees are onboarded, current ones change roles, and eventually, some move on to new opportunities. But what doesn’t change — or rather, what shouldn’t be left to chance — is how access to business-critical systems is managed during these transitions.
Historically, many IT departments have relied on a patchwork of manual steps, email requests, and ticketing systems to manage identity lifecycle events. This approach is time-consuming, error-prone, and risky. Fortunately, Microsoft Entra ID now includes Lifecycle Workflows, a built-in solution designed to automate these processes and close the gaps.
This post is for the decision-makers: CIOs, CISOs, IT managers, and compliance leaders looking for a clear, non-technical justification to invest in automating identity governance.
Lifecycle Workflows in Microsoft Entra ID are predefined, policy-driven automations that are triggered by user events, including:
With Lifecycle Workflows, you can automatically:
These actions occur without a single helpdesk ticket. And for organizations that need to maintain centralized ticketing or logging systems, Microsoft Entra supports integration with IT service management platforms like ServiceNow through the Microsoft Graph API. This allows for automated workflow execution with full visibility into identity events — bridging the gap between governance and operational service management.
Lifecycle Workflows are designed for cloud-native identity architectures, where users, devices, and applications are managed primarily in Microsoft Entra ID, Microsoft 365, and connected SaaS platforms. In these environments, Lifecycle Workflows can:
However, many organizations still operate in hybrid environments, where user accounts and key resources remain in on-premises Active Directory. In these scenarios, Lifecycle Workflows can still be effective, especially when integrated with tools like Identity Exchange (IdX) — a framework developed by Oxford Computer Group (now a MajorKey Technologies Company) that leverages commercially available Azure resources like Cosmos DB, Logic Apps, and Azure Data Factory. Hybrid-ready workflows can invoke downstream provisioning via Logic Apps, PowerShell, or custom connectors, resulting in consistent automation and governance even when all systems are not fully cloud-native.
That said, moving toward a cloud-native identity model should remain on the roadmap for every organization. Why? Because cloud-native architecture reduces complexity, eliminates dependency on legacy infrastructure, and allows you to unlock the full capabilities of Microsoft Entra - including real-time automation, dynamic policies, and end-to-end visibility into access.
Manual processes for onboarding and offboarding are resource intensive. IT teams spend hours per week managing access rights and user provisioning — often across disconnected systems. Lifecycle automation:
For organizations with high turnover or seasonal hiring, automating these processes can save hundreds of hours per year.
Manual offboarding is one of the most common causes of insider risk. Departed employees often retain access to corporate systems days — or even weeks — after their exit. Lifecycle Workflows:
This reduces the risk of data leaks, compliance violations, or disgruntled ex-employees misusing sensitive access.
From GDPR and HIPAA to ISO 27001 and SOX, nearly every major compliance framework requires organizations to enforce least privilege and timely deprovisioning.
Lifecycle Workflows help demonstrate this by:
Whether you're expanding rapidly, going through a merger, or adopting hybrid work, identity needs are constantly evolving. Lifecycle Workflows scale with your business by:
Lifecycle workflows are technical means to enable a variety of business outcomes. A well-planned implementation should reduce operational friction, enhance the employee experience, and lower risk across your digital environment.
Organizations that modernize their identity lifecycle management realize faster onboarding, cleaner offboarding, better compliance posture, and reduced IT overhead. That’s a rare combination of ROI and risk reduction in one initiative.
If you're still relying on spreadsheets, email requests, or manual helpdesk tickets to manage user access, it's time for a change. Microsoft Entra Lifecycle Workflows can help you move from reactive to proactive identity governance, while making your business more secure and efficient in the process.
Principal Architect
Based out of the New York Metro/Northeast Region, Frank has 25+ years in the IT industry. Frank provides strategic architecture and consulting to organizations looking to improve security and achieve Zero Trust in their environments. His extensive experience in identity and access management, governance, compliance, and risk management allow him to understand a client’s business needs and how to properly implement the right technology to solve specific identity challenges.
