Provisioning users refers to the process of creating, managing, and assigning resources or access to users within a system, network, or application. It ensures that users have the necessary accounts, permissions, and configurations required to perform their roles efficiently. User provisioning can occur in a variety of contexts, such as IT systems, cloud services, or enterprise applications.

Key Components of User Provisioning
1. Account Creation:
o Automatically or manually setting up user accounts in various systems or applications.
o Assigning usernames, passwords, and profile information.
2. Access Rights Management:
o Granting the appropriate level of access based on a user’s role or responsibilities.
o Ensuring compliance with security policies like the principle of least privilege.
3. Resource Allocation:
o Assigning resources, such as email accounts, storage, or software licenses, to users.
4. Authentication Setup:
o Setting up credentials like passwords, multi-factor authentication, or Single Sign-On (SSO).
5. Ongoing Management:
o Modifying user access as their roles change.
o Suspending or revoking access when users leave or no longer require access to specific resources.
6. Automation Tools (optional):
o Many organizations use tools to automate the provisioning and deprovisioning process, making it quicker and less prone to error.

Example Scenarios
• New Employee Onboarding
• Role Change
• Account Deactivation.
By streamlining user provisioning, organizations improve efficiency, maintain security, and reduce the risk of unauthorized access.

User provisioning is a critical part of identity and access management (IAM) to ensure the right individuals have access to the right resources at the right times.