Definition
Access reviews are a critical security process where an organization systematically verifies that individuals have the appropriate levels of access to digital resources. This involves regularly examining user accounts, permissions, and entitlements to ensure they align with job roles and responsibilities. In practice, access reviews are conducted periodically, often quarterly or annually, by managers or designated security personnel. They are essential for maintaining the principle of least privilege, reducing the attack surface, and complying with regulatory requirements. For instance, a manager might review their team's access to sensitive customer data to confirm only necessary personnel retain that privilege. A common point of confusion is mistaking access reviews for simple password resets, which address authentication but not authorization. This concept is fundamental to cybersecurity domains and appears on exams like CompTIA Security+ and CySA+.