Streamlining Application Access: A Guide to Automating Just-In-Time Access with Tines

Managing Identity and Access Management (IAM) is crucial for organizations to maintain security and productivity in today’s digital landscape.

However, as businesses expand, the traditional controls in place to protect identities often struggle to keep up with the rapid changes and complexities of modern environments.

One common challenge faced is granting temporary access, also known as Just-In-Time (JIT) access, to sensitive applications. This process can create friction as IT teams balance the need for immediate access with stringent security requirements and audit trails.

This article delves into a ready-made Tines workflow specifically designed to address this challenge: Grant Temporary Application Access. By leveraging orchestration, this workflow helps organizations strike a balance between speed and security.

The Issue: Balancing Access and Risk

“Scaling access equals scaling risk,” emphasizes Stephen McKenna, IT Operations Technician at Tines, in a recent blog post on IAM orchestration. Each event involving a new joiner, mover, or leaver triggers a series of changes.

Many organizations still handle these changes manually across disparate systems. Some applications integrate seamlessly with Single Sign-On (SSO), while others require manual setup.

When a user requires JIT access, such as a developer needing production access for debugging purposes or a contractor needing entry for a specific project, the manual process often involves delays, permanent privilege accumulation, and scattered audit trails.

• Slow Response Times: Users submit tickets that may languish in queues until reviewed by an analyst.
• Permanent Privilege Creep: Access is sometimes granted indefinitely, leading to privilege escalation that can be exploited by attackers.
• Audit Nightmares: Tracking who approved access, when it was granted, and when it was revoked becomes challenging when information is scattered across various communication channels.

Without orchestration, accounts can linger, and privileges can accumulate unchecked.

The Solution: Streamlined, Time-Limited Provisioning

The Grant Temporary Application Access workflow automates the entire lifecycle of a JIT access request, ensuring swift approval, proper access provisioning, and automatic revocation when access is no longer needed.

By orchestrating tools like Jira Software, Okta, and Slack, this workflow enables quick access, secure approvals, and seamless revocation based on predefined time limits.

Here’s how the workflow functions:

1. Self-Service Request: Users access a Tines Page—a user-friendly web form—to request application access, specify the required duration, and provide a business justification.

2. Automated Approval Routing: Upon submission, Tines automatically identifies and notifies the appropriate approver, whether it’s the user’s manager or the application owner, via Slack or Microsoft Teams. The notification includes request details and interactive approval options.

3. Instant Provisioning: If approved, the workflow triggers Okta to add the user to the relevant application group instantly, without manual intervention. Simultaneously, a ticket is created or updated in Jira Software to document the approval for compliance purposes.

4. Time-Bound Access: The workflow enters a waiting state for the specified duration (e.g., 2 hours) to ensure access remains active only for the necessary timeframe.

5. Automatic Revocation: Once the access duration expires, Tines automatically removes the user from the application group using Okta. The Jira ticket is updated to “Closed,” and the user is notified via Slack that their session has ended.

The Advantages

Implementing this intelligent workflow offers immediate benefits across three key areas:

• Enforced Least Privilege: By automating access revocation, the risk of lingering accounts is mitigated, reducing the attack surface.
• Audit-Ready Compliance: Every step of the access lifecycle is automatically logged in Jira, providing a centralized source of truth for auditors.
• Improved User Experience: Users gain quick access without prolonged waiting times, enhancing productivity.
• Efficiency: IT analysts are freed from manual user management tasks, allowing them to focus on higher-value security initiatives.

Setting Up the Workflow

Utilizing the pre-built workflow available in the Tines Library streamlines the configuration process.

Step 1: Import the Story: Access the Tines Library, search for “Grant temporary application access,” and import the template into your workspace.

Step 2: Connect Your Tools: Establish connections to Okta, Jira Software, and Slack within the workflow to enable seamless communication between these tools.

• Okta: Manage group memberships for access provisioning.
• Jira Software: Track requests and approvals for compliance purposes.
• Slack: Facilitate notifications and interactive approval processes.

Step 3: Configure the Tines Page: Customize the form fields in the Tines Page to align with your organization’s specific application requirements, such as “Salesforce Admin” or “AWS Write Access.”

Step 4: Define Security Policies: Tailor the logic within the workflow to adhere to your organization’s security policies, such as setting maximum access durations or implementing additional approval layers for sensitive applications.

Step 5: Testing and Deployment: Conduct thorough testing to ensure the workflow functions as intended, including Slack notifications and Okta group changes. Once verified, publish the Tines Page and share it with your team.

To experience this workflow firsthand, sign up for a free Tines account and explore its capabilities.

This article is sponsored and written by Tines.