What Is the Joiner–Mover–Leaver (JML) Lifecycle?

Understanding the Joiner–Mover–Leaver Lifecycle

The Joiner–Mover–Leaver (JML) lifecycle defines how identities are created, updated, and removed as people join, change roles, or leave an organization.

It’s the backbone of Identity Governance and Administration (IGA) — ensuring that access always matches a user’s role and employment status.

The JML lifecycle ensures that people have the right access, at the right time, for the right reasons — and nothing more.

Why JML Matters

Manual lifecycle management leads to delays and risk:

• New hires wait for accounts.
• Movers accumulate excessive privileges.
• Leavers retain orphaned accounts that create audit findings.

Automating the JML process ensures:

• Immediate Day-1 access.
• Automatic updates when roles change.
• Instant revocation upon termination.
• Full audit evidence for every change.

The Three Stages of the JML Lifecycle

Each stage has distinct governance requirements — together they form a complete identity lifecycle.

Handling Edge Cases: Rehires, Contractors, and Seasonal Workers

Not every identity follows a clean JML path.

Organizations regularly manage rehired employees, long-term contractors, and seasonal staff, each with unique lifecycle challenges:

• Rehires → When former employees return, OpenIAM detects rehire events and can reactivate or rebuild accounts safely — removing old entitlements and applying only current access.
• Contractors → These users often originate from different sources (vendor systems, partner directories). OpenIAM integrates multiple authoritative feeds so contractor identities are governed just like employees.
• Seasonal or Temporary Workers → Accounts can be automatically suspended and reactivated based on employment dates — no need to delete and recreate each cycle.

OpenIAM’s lifecycle engine handles every variation of workforce identity — joiners, movers, leavers, rehirers, and seasonals — with the same level of automation and auditability.

1. Joiner: Automated Provisioning 

When a new hire or contractor joins, automated provisioning ensures access is ready from Day 1.

How It Works

• Integrates with HR or source systems (Workday, SuccessFactors, ADP).
• Evaluates attributes (department, location, title) to assign birthright access.
• Provisions accounts through connectors or APIs across AD, email, and business apps.
• Creates ITSM tickets (ServiceNow, Freshservice) for non-connected systems.

Benefits

• Instant, policy-driven access for new hires.
• Consistent role assignments across applications.
• Reduced manual effort and fewer errors.
• Complete audit trail for provisioning events.

2. Mover: Dynamic Access Adjustment 

As roles change, OpenIAM automatically:

• Updates entitlements based on new attributes.
• Removes outdated permissions.
• Adds new access aligned to current responsibilities.
• Performs SoD checks to avoid conflicting privileges.

Automation prevents privilege creep and keeps access aligned with each person’s current job function.

3. Leaver: Automated Deprovisioning 

When someone leaves, OpenIAM ensures immediate deactivation.

How It Works

• HR termination event triggers deprovisioning workflows.
• Connectors disable or delete accounts in connected systems.
• ITSM tickets are generated for manual removals.
• Nightly reconciliation verifies completion and records timestamps.

Benefits

• No orphaned accounts or lingering privileges.
• Reduced insider risk and audit findings.
• Closed-loop tracking for every account removal.

Core Enablers of JML Automation in OpenIAM

Example: End-to-End JML Automation

1. Joiner → HR creates a new record; OpenIAM provisions AD and email accounts and opens a ServiceNow ticket for hardware setup.
2. Mover → User transfers to Finance; OpenIAM revokes marketing rights, adds finance entitlements, and runs SoD checks.
3. Leaver → HR termination event triggers account deactivation and ticket closure.
4. Rehire → If the same user returns later, OpenIAM reactivates accounts safely and applies current roles only.
5. Reconciliation → Nightly process verifies all changes and updates audit logs.

Result: continuous, closed-loop identity governance.

Benefits of Automating the JML Lifecycle

• Speed & Efficiency — Instant onboarding and real-time updates.
• Accuracy & Security — Eliminate privilege creep and stale accounts.
• Compliance & Auditability — Evidence for every provisioning and termination event.
• Hybrid Support — Works across connected and ticket-based systems.
• Scalability — Manages employees, contractors, and seasonal workforces at scale.

Automated JML governance gives organizations control and confidence throughout the entire identity lifecycle.

OpenIAM’s Approach to JML Automation

• Integrates with HR, contractor, and partner sources.
• Uses business rules to drive policy-based provisioning and deprovisioning.
• Automates through connectors and APIs or via ITSM tickets for manual steps.
• Continuously reconciles identity data for accuracy and audit readiness.
• Provides a single governance platform covering all identity types and lifecycle events.

With OpenIAM, every Joiner, Mover, Leaver, or Rehire event is captured, executed, and auditable — ensuring security and compliance without sacrificing speed.

← Back to Identity Lifecycle Management

Related Concepts

• Birthright Access
• Just-in-Time Provisioning
• Reconciliation
• Automated Provisioning
• Automated Deprovisioning
• Workforce Identity Concepts