An identity recovery workflow is the process used to restore or reset a user’s access when they lose a password, passkey, MFA device, or other sign-in method. It usually includes support verification, alternate contact checks, admin approval, and enrollment of a new authentication factor.
It matters because recovery can become the weakest part of a strong identity system. Attackers often target helpdesks, self-service reset pages, or collaboration chats to convince a user or support agent to approve a reset or register a new device. If the workflow is too permissive, the attacker can gain legitimate access without breaking the original credential. Defenders should treat recovery as a sensitive control: require out-of-band confirmation, use strong identity proofing, limit who can approve resets, log every change to authentication methods, and alert on unusual recovery attempts. A secure recovery process protects the whole account lifecycle, not just the login step.