When an employee leaves, their digital keys should leave with them. If user accounts aren't disabled immediately, former staff may still access emails, files, or applications, sometimes accidentally, sometimes maliciously. Prompt lockout ensures your data stays with the company, not with someone's personal laptop.
Lingering access: Former employees can still log in and pull sensitive data.
Insider threats: Disgruntled ex-staff may sabotage systems or leak information.
Compliance issues: Many regulations require immediate removal of access upon termination.
In Entra ID Admin Center, go to Users.
Select the terminated employee’s account.
Set Block sign-in to Yes to disable access.
For consistency, automate this process using:
Scripts (e.g., PowerShell to disable accounts instantly).
Power Automate workflows integrated with your HR system.
Delayed action: Manual processes mean accounts may stay active for hours, or days.
Shared accounts: Generic logins make it hard to confirm termination lockouts.
Linked services: Disabling an Entra ID account may not automatically disable linked third-party systems.
Integrate with HR off-boarding
Automate account disablement at the moment termination is processed.
Audit for lingering accounts
Regularly check for enabled accounts belonging to terminated employees.
Enforce single-user accounts
Eliminate shared logins so every departure has a clear offboarding trail.
Add conditional cleanup
Archive email, OneDrive, and Teams data as part of the termination workflow to protect business continuity.
Disabling user access upon termination isn't just a security checkbox, it’s one of the simplest, most effective ways to reduce insider risk. Automate it where possible, verify it often, and keep the lockout process tied directly to HR events. Security starts the moment access ends.