Birthright access is a type of access management that grants users access to all resources, systems, and applications within an organization by default, based on their role or job title. In other words, users are given access to everything they need from the moment they join the organization, without any additional checks or approvals.

While birthright access can be convenient for users and can reduce the administrative burden of managing access privileges, it can also be a security risk. Birthright access can result in overprivileged users who have access to more resources and data than they need to perform their job functions, which increases the risk of unauthorized access and data breaches.

In contrast, just-in-time access (JIT access) is an approach that grants users access to resources on an as-needed basis, for a limited time, and only for the specific task or function they need to perform. JIT access minimizes the risk of overprivileged users and ensures that access is granted only to those who need it, when they need it. This approach can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access and data breaches. Overall, while birthright access can be convenient, it is generally not considered as good as JIT access from a security standpoint. JIT access is a best practice in access management, particularly in industries that handle sensitive data or operate in high-risk environments. In a deeper article, we discuss the details of just-in-time and birthright access and how to manage least privilege at scale.