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Global Accelerated Learning • Est. 1999
Glossary Term Orphaned Account

Training Camp • Cybersecurity Glossary

What is Orphaned Account?

Orphaned account: an active account with no valid owner, such as a departed employee's, posing access risk until deprovisioned through identity reviews.

Glossary > Identity & Access Management > Orphaned Account

Understanding Orphaned Account

An orphaned account is a user or service account that remains active in a system but is no longer associated with a valid owner, such as a departed employee or a decommissioned application. These accounts are a significant security risk because they often retain access privileges yet are unmonitored, making them attractive targets for attackers and insiders. Regular access reviews, automated deprovisioning, and identity lifecycle management help detect and remove orphaned and stale accounts.

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