Roll out Entra ID access packages / initial assignment of entitlements
Implementation Effort: High – Deploying access packages involves defining catalogs, configuring policies, coordinating with resource owners, and running pilot deployments, which requires structured project planning.
User Impact: High – Users will and need guidance on requesting or managing entitlements. Some users in early stages need additional monitoring and support.
Overview
Rolling out Microsoft Entra ID access packages and assigning initial entitlements is a foundational step toward structured, policy-driven access management. Access packages allow organizations to define and manage bundles of access to groups, apps, and SharePoint sites with policy-based approvals, expiration, and review cycles. This deployment should begin with a gradual rollout to a scoped set of users or roles to validate policy behavior, entitlement visibility, and end-user experience. This phased approach supports testing, troubleshooting, and refinement before organization-wide deployment.
This initiative supports the Zero Trust principle of "Use least privilege access" by ensuring users receive only the access necessary for their role, with time-bound and reviewable entitlements, incorporating approval workflows, policy-based access expiration, and eligibility rules. Not performing this deployment leaves the organization exposed to over-permissioned accounts, inconsistent access requests, and potential lateral movement by threat actors exploiting stale or untracked entitlements.